Biochemical and skeletal dating methods accurately determine human age post-mortem
the verdict
CONTESTED
the evidence cuts both ways
confidence 27/100
While biochemical markers and epigenetic clocks show strong promise for estimating age and post-mortem intervals, their current application is hindered by a lack of universal standardization, high variability, and methodological limitations.
Evidence for · 3
Uncovering Forensic Evidence: A Path to Age Estimation through DNA Methylation.
2024 · cited by 22
DNA methylation models show high promise as biomarkers for chronological age prediction.
Evidence against · 3
Estimation of Late Postmortem Interval: Where Do We Stand? A Literature Review.
2023 · cited by 36
There is currently no precise and secure method to accurately determine late post-mortem intervals, with carbon-14 being the only well-recognized technique.
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More for · 2
Advancing Forensic Human Chronological Age Estimation: Biochemical, Genetic, and Epigenetic Approaches from the Last 15 Years: A Systematic Review.
2025 · cited by 6
Advances in biochemical and epigenetic approaches have improved forensic age estimation capabilities.
BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN VITREOUS HUMOR: AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR POSTMORTEM INTERVAL ESTIMATION
2025 · cited by 2
Vitreous humor biochemical marker concentrations correlate reliably with the post-mortem interval.
More against · 2
Age-at-Death Estimation: Accuracy and Reliability of Common Age-Reporting Strategies in Forensic Anthropology
2023 · cited by 18
Forensic anthropology adult age-at-death estimations lack standardization and consistent accuracy across different strategies.
The utility of innominate dry bone weight in age estimation: A new pelvic aging method.
2026 · cited by 0
Dry bone weight shows limited precision and high inaccuracy when used to predict chronological age.