The use of the Y-chromosome not only for identification purpose but for investigation also

Abstract The use of Y-chromosome in forensic field is well known during the last 10 years [1]. In a criminal case, the male specific Y-haplotype is usually used to solve mixture stains (male/female), particularly in rape cases and murders with sexual assault. We report here a case of murder of a young woman. We found that the nuclear STRs profile extracted from the male fraction of victim's vaginal swab was different from her father's one, but they were identical in the Y-specific haplotype. This important information suggested us to extend inquires about all male components of her father's family, and allowed us the identification of the murderer (a victim's cousin).