**6. Emerging biomarkers in forensic identification**

Forensic genetics will continue to develop and improve its methods, due to the advances in the technical development. The key element in forensic protocols is to identify the origin of biological traces found at the scene. In the last 5 years, some studies have demonstrated that messenger RNA (mRNA) can be useful in forensic identification. Zubakov et al. [23] have identified some mRNA stable in body fluids, such as blood and saliva.

In recent years, the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) has performed some studies on the RNA/DNA co‐extraction and proved once again the usefulness of mRNA as a tool for the identification of semen and saliva in forensic cases, compared to the DNA methodology [24].

Another important application of mRNA is in the forensic identification of the skin, using the RT‐PCR methods [25].

Since 2009 Hanson et al. [26] have been explored miRNA for their use in forensically body fluids identification. The advantage of these new markers over the mRNAs markers consists in the fact that they have a smaller size containing around 18–22 bp, thus being more stable than mRNA to degradation conditions.

Since last decade new steps have been done in "forensic molecular pathology" and in "post‐ mortem pharmacogenetics".

Studies regarding the molecular diagnosis of genetic cardiac arrhythmia or long QT syndrome which leads to sudden death [27] and the post‐mortem analysis of gene CYP2D6, which encodes a drug metabolizing enzyme whose variation leads to adverse drug effects and finally to death [28] are new tools which evolve in forensics.
