IIT BHU Wins Top Prize at Forensic Hackathon 2025
| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Forensic Hackathon 2025 |
| Organizer | National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) |
| Winner | Research team from the School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi |
| Award Details | Presented by the Union Home Minister at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi; Cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a memento |
| Developed Technology | Glycan-based forensic technique for accurate age estimation based on biological fluids |
| Technology Features | Combines glycomic profiling with machine learning algorithms to estimate chronological age and biological age |
| Current Limitations | DNA-based forensic analyses face biological variability and technical limitations; require ancient and good-quality DNA |
| Applications | Useful for profiling suspects from crime scenes, identifying missing persons, mass disaster victims, and age verification |
| Importance | Enhances accuracy in forensic profiling, especially when DNA matches are unavailable; provides insights into health, immune status, and stress levels |
| About DNA | Organic molecule with a double-helix structure; discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953; transfers genetic characteristics |
| Location of DNA | Mostly found in the nucleus of the cell |