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Forensic Science: Forensic Genetics and Toxicology

Forensic Science: Forensic Genetics and Toxicology

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PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Eduardo Arroyo Pardo

Tel. +34 913941576
ADDRESS

Toxicology and Health Legislation Dept.

Faculty of Medicine Complutense University of Madrid
Pabellón 7, Planta 4, Pl. de Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid

Group information

This group arises from the application of population genetics in the forensic field; especially in:

Personal identification and family relationships between groups of individuals,
Determination of the biogeographical origin of human samples using Ancestral Informative Markers (AIMs) and External Visible Characteristics (EVC) and
Study of genetic polymorphisms involved in in the metabolism of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse (cytochrome P450) in current human populations.

The group has great expertise in the study of human variability of autosomal polymorphisms (Short Tandem Repeats or STRs), sex-linked polymorphisms (X chromosome) and haploid markers (mitochondrial DNA, Y chromosome), as well as in the genetic data analysis from these markers by using population genetics specific software.

Likewise, the group has also experience on the study of the aforementioned polymorphisms in degraded samples, both of forensic and archaeological and/or historical interest.

Review

Dr. Eduardo Arroyo Pardo

Licentiate degree in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University (UCM) in 1987, PhD in 1993 and, University Professor since 2011.

He has directed 3 National Plan projects (CGL2006-07828/BOS, CGL2009-07959/BOS, HAR2015-67323-C2-2-P) on genetic analysis of ancient human remains of archaeological and/or historical interest. He is currently leading an agreement with the company Iltirta S.L., within a multicentre group, for the identification of victims of the Civil War, which has been in place since July 2017.

He has signed several research agreements with universities and national and foreign companies. He has recently signed a framework agreement with the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Community of Madrid.

He has been director of the ancient DNA unit of the Research Support Centre (CAI) of Archaeometry and Archaeological Analysis of the UCM and is currently Head of the UCM Research Group no. 970545 on Forensic Genetics and Population Genetics. He has spent several stays at institutions such as the Anthropology Unit of the University of Barcelona; Institut für Human Genetik, Göttingen Universität, Germany or the Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Portugal.

He is the author of more than 100 publications and a number of book chapters.

Strategic objectives

Implementation of genetic polymorphisms analysis used by the group in new massive sequencing platforms.
Optimisation of data analysis generated by new platforms.
Optimisation of the use of multiplex PCR for genetic markers of
- Phenotypic appearance (ECV markers) and ancestry (AIMs) in humans,
- Infectious diseases from human biological samples and
- Metabolism of drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals.

Lines of research

Human population genetics: Current population phylogeny through genetic polymorphisms of mtDNA, Y chromosome X chromosome, and autosomal systems.
Study of polymorphisms associated with different pathologies and aging processes.
Genetic analysis of old critical samples: Family relationships and biogeographical origin. Use of family and personal identification (STRs, SNPs, Indels), biogeographical origin (AIMs) and phenotypic appearance (ECV) markers in samples of forensic and/or archaeological interest. Metagenomics of infectious diseases.
Forensic toxicology and genetics: Cytochrome P450 polymorphism variability.