microRNA的检测技术及其法医学应用前景

Detection Technologies of microRNA and Their Prospects for Forensic Applications

microRNA（miRNA）是一类由18～25个核苷酸构成的非编码小分子RNA，在转录后水平调控基因的表达。miRNA的表达具有高度保守性、时序性和组织特异性。随着其检测技术的逐渐成熟，miRNA被引入到法医学的研究中。新近研究表明，miRNA在法医学体液鉴定、种属鉴定和PMI推断等方面有一定的应用前景。本文简述miRNA检测技术的发展，并对其在法医学中的应用及前景进行综述，以期为相关研究及实践提供参考。

MicroRNA （miRNA） belongs to a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that contains 18-25 nucleotides and regulates gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Many miRNAs are highly conserved and display timing and tissue-specific expression. With the advance of the miRNA detection technologies, miRNA has been introduced to forensic science as a potentially novel set of genetic mark ers of forensic body fluid identification, species identification and PMI estimation. In this article, the de tection methodologies of miRNA are reviewed, and their potential applications in forensic practice and research future are also discussed.