THE ROLE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENTISTS IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS OF FORENSIC DNA DATABASES

Abstract

Forensic genetics has become a central tool in solving crimes, with DNA databases, such as the National Bank of Genetic Profiles (BNPG), serving as a fundamental technological instrument for identifying individuals. The objective of this study was to analyze the role of biomedical scientists in the management and analysis of these systems, highlighting their technical and ethical contribution to criminal investigations. To this end, an integrative literature review was conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases, covering the period from 2013 to 2025. The results demonstrate that biomedical scientists are involved in all phases of the process, from the laboratory processing of biological traces to the interpretation of complex data on digital platforms. This ensures the standardization and reliability of genetic cross-matches, providing scientific robustness to judicial evidence. However, the study points out that structural challenges, such as regional infrastructure disparities and budgetary limitations, coupled with bioethical dilemmas regarding data privacy, limit the effectiveness of the system in Brazil. It concludes that biomedical professionals are important for enabling a secure and efficient forensic system, and that overcoming logistical and regulatory bottlenecks is necessary to strengthen national technical-scientific expertise.