AbstractThe identification of human remains can be carried out by means of anthropological methods (1), dental structure analysis (2), and DNA-based analytical methods (3). DNA analysis remains the only method of identification mainly when there is little remaining material to perform such identification (e.g., in fires, explosions, decomposing bodies or skeletonized bodies), which has led dentists working with forensic investigation to become more familiar with the new molecular biology techniques. The currently available DNA tests have high reliable. This article presents a literature review referring to the main studies on Forensic Dentistry that involve the use of DNA for human identification, and makes an overview of the evolution of this technology in the last years, highlighting the importance of molecular biology in forensic sciences.
Key words: DNA; forensic dentistry; molecular biology