{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T14:55:01Z","timestamp":1776351301455,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]],"date-time":"2025-04-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745539200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"by Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Portugal"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: The Y chromosome is a crucial tool in forensic genetics due to its unique characteristics, such as its haploid inheritance and lack of recombination. Y-STRs (short tandem repeats on the Y chromosome) are widely used for identifying male genetic profiles in DNA mixtures, especially in sexual assault cases where high levels of female DNA hinder autosomal analysis. This study evaluates the applicability of Y-STRs in forensic investigations, addressing their limitations and the impact of advanced technologies, such as rapidly mutating Y-STRs (RM Y-STRs). Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze existing knowledge on the application of Y-STRs in sexual crimes. The study also examines the role of population databases, such as YHRD, in estimating haplotype frequencies and enhancing forensic reliability. Results: Y-STR analysis proves essential for male DNA identification in complex mixtures, with RM Y-STRs enhancing discriminatory power. However, limitations persist, particularly in cases involving closely related male lineages. The population database coverage remains insufficient in regions like Cape Verde, affecting forensic reliability. Case studies demonstrate Y-STR effectiveness in solving cold cases and sexual crimes, reinforcing the need for expanded databases and methodological advancements. Conclusions: Y-STRs play a fundamental role in forensic genetics, particularly in sexual assault investigations. Their integration with advanced sequencing technologies and expanded databases is critical for improving forensic accuracy. Ethical considerations regarding genetic data privacy and potential discrimination must be addressed through clear regulations and forensic best practices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes16050484","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]],"date-time":"2025-04-25T06:10:13Z","timestamp":1745561413000},"page":"484","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Y-STR Databases\u2014Application in Sexual Crimes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Rita","family":"Costa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Jennifer","family":"Fadoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, I.P., North Branch, 4050-202 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"LAQV&REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7506-4426","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ant\u00f3nio","family":"Amorim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, I.P., North Branch, 4050-202 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"LAQV&REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, I.P., Centre Branch, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon University, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6542-4256","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Cain\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"LAQV&REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, I.P., Centre Branch, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1016\/S0379-0738(01)00650-8","article-title":"Y-STR DNA amplification as biological evidence in sexually assaulted female victims with no cytological detection of spermatozoa","volume":"125","author":"Sibille","year":"2002","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. 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