Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42182984›Full record

SynthesisF1000Research2024

Performance of Forensic Age Estimation by Aspartic Acid Racemization and DNA Methylation: A Systematic Review.

Eko Prastyo, Elza Ibrahim Auerkari, Antonius Winoto Suhartono, Roben Suhadi Pasaribu, Achmad Gigih Andy Putra, Pertti Auerkari

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in F1000Research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. State-of-the-Art Age Determination Methods for Amphibians and Reptiles.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Eko PrastyoForensic Odontology Specialist Study Program, Department of Oral Biology, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.
Elza Ibrahim AuerkariDivision of Forensic Odontology, Oral Biology, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5680-7925
Antonius Winoto SuhartonoDivision of Forensic Odontology, Oral Biology, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.
Roben Suhadi PasaribuMaster's Programme in Dental Sciences, Division of Forensic Odontology, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1335-517X
Achmad Gigih Andy PutraMaster's Programme in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia.
Pertti AuerkariDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Forensic age estimation is not difficult when the body is found in good condition, but in cases of severe decomposition or damage, such as burnt or separated body parts, then the analysis can only be done with bones and teeth. There has been abundant research and development in the field of related biochemistry over the years. Various molecular changes occur in hard tissues and long-lived proteins, such as those in bones and teeth during the physiological process of aging. Aspartic acid racemization and DNA methylation are still the most frequently used age estimation methods because of their advantages in accuracy. Method: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of DNA methylation and aspartic acid racemization methods for age estimation. Journal articles were searched in the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Semantic Scholar of 2017-2022 according to PRISMA guidelines. Result: Twelve journal articles were eligible for review. The DNA methylation method is quite simple to use because of commercially available methylation kits. Furthermore, the results can be obtained relatively quickly without requiring many samples, and the method is less sensitive to thermal and other damage than the aspartic acid racemization method. Conclusion: The aspartic acid racemization method for age estimation has high accuracy, especially in determining age at death. However, temperature and the condition of the teeth affect the racemization of aspartic acid. Given that DNA methylation is generally stable in a wide range of temperatures, it provides a better approach to determining the chronological age even from charred remains.

Indexed as

Aspartic AcidDNA MethylationForensic SciencesHumansAspartic AcidAge estimationaspartic acid racemizationDNA methylationforensics

Identifiers

PMID42182984
PMCPMC13191321

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.