The role of microRNA in forensic science: a bibliometric study of research trends and applications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in gene regulation and have emerged as valuable biomarkers in forensic science. Their remarkable stability, tissue specificity, and resistance to degradation make them suitable for identifying body fluids, estimating postmortem intervals, and determining causes of death. This bibliometric study analyzes global research trends on forensic miRNA applications using data retrieved from the Scopus database from 1976 to 2024, visualized with VOSviewer. A total of 2,577 publications were identified, with an average output of 53 articles per year. The United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom were the leading contributors in this field. Current research hotspots include messenger RNA correlations, gene expression profiling, wound vitality assessment, and postmortem tissue analysis using advanced molecular techniques such as RT-qPCR and massively parallel sequencing. These findings highlight the growing recognition of miRNA as a reliable molecular tool in forensic investigations, supporting more accurate and objective analyses in the reconstruction of criminal events. © The Author(s) 2025.