Microbial profiling of soil: A novel tool in forensic investigations

Abstract

Soil is one of the most common forms of trace evidence in forensic investigations. Traditional forensic analyses rely on physical and chemical soil characteristics, which often lack sufficient discriminatory power in complex environments. Advances in molecular biology and high-throughput sequencing now enable microbial profiling of soil, revealing unique microbial community structures that vary spatially and temporally. This review examines methodological approaches for forensic soil microbial profiling, including sampling, preservation, DNA extraction, marker selection, and sequencing strategies (metagenomics and next-generation sequencing). Applications in forensic science are explored, including crime scene association, geographic provenance determination, activity reconstruction, and integration with other trace evidence. Limitations, such as environmental variability, sample heterogeneity, and lack of standardized databases, are discussed alongside future directions, including multi-omics integration, AI and machine learning applications, and portable field-based sequencing technologies. Overall, microbial profiling of soil represents a novel and powerful tool to complement traditional forensic methods, providing biological signatures that enhance the evidentiary value of soil in criminal investigations.