# Artificial Intelligence and Forensic Genetics: Current Applications and Future Perspectives
###### Abstract  
The term artificial intelligence (AI) was coined in the 1950s and it has successfully made its way into different fields of medicine. Forensic sciences and AI are increasingly intersecting fields that hold tremendous potential for solving complex criminal investigations. Considering the great evolution in the technologies applied to forensic genetics, this literature review aims to explore the existing body of research that investigates the application of AI in the field of forensic genetics. Scopus and Web of Science were searched: after an accurate evaluation, 12 articles were included in the present systematic review. The application of AI in the field of forensic genetics has predominantly focused on two aspects. Firstly, several studies have investigated the use of AI in haplogroup analysis to enhance and expedite the classification process of DNA samples. Secondly, other research groups have utilized AI to analyze short tandem repeat (STR) profiles, thereby minimizing the risk of misinterpretation. While AI has proven to be highly useful in forensic genetics, further improvements are needed before using these applications in real cases. The main challenge lies in the communication gap between forensic experts: as AI continues to advance, the collaboration between forensic sciences and AI presents immense potential for transforming investigative practices, enabling quicker and more precise case resolutions. artificial intelligence (AI); forensic sciences; forensic genetics; forensic implication; STR interpretation  
that are capable of activities like pattern recognition, problem-solving, and decision-making that normally require human intellect [7]. In the last decade, there has been a surge of interest surrounding the domain of AI due to the availability of various open-source module packages such as TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch, as well as commercial software such as PLS_Toolbox and Solo 9.0 [8]. Most of the research investigating the role of AI in forensic sciences has focused on areas such as sex and age estimation [9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18], physical attributes, and in forensic odontology and anthropology for human identification purposes [12; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26]. Furthermore, AI could be very helpful in the evaluation of DNA methylation-based age prediction. Specifically, [PERSON] et al. showed that an artificial neural network (ANN) had a higher accuracy in age prediction than a regression model, even though regression models are commonly used to estimate age [27]. Other experimental papers have explored the challenging field of definition of the cause of death: in rare cases, it can be difficult to define the manner of death and AI could be helpful. For example, in cases of drowning, several research papers have focused on the application of AI in automating diatom testing, with the aim of achieving higher levels of efficiency and accuracy in the definition of the exact cause of death [11; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33]. Other authors have tried to apply AI in the evaluation of firearm lesions, demonstrating that digitizing and analyzing the fired projectile specimens could be used for firearm identification [34]. At the same time, AI systems could be applied in order to identify gun-shot entrance/exit wounds [35]. Several applications have been used to perform biomechanical studies on patterns of cranial bone fracture [36]. Furthermore, other papers have focused on the application of AI for the definition of the post-mortem interval (PMI) [37]. Finally, in medico-legal sciences, AI could play a pivotal role in the management of medical liability [38; 39]. The integration of AI algorithms and forensic genetics has the potential to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of forensic investigations, ultimately leading to better outcomes in solving crimes and identifying perpetrators [40]. The seminal paper that focused on the application of AI to forensic genetics was published in 2008 [41].