Journal of Animal Breeding and Genomics (J Anim Breed Genom)
Indexed in KCI
OPEN ACCESS, PEER REVIEWED
pISSN 1226-5543
eISSN 2586-4297
Research Article

Genomic Analysis of Post-Mortem Feline Tissue Samples for Forensic Identification and Kinship Verification

1Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
2Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
3College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
4Animal Disease Diagnostic Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea

These authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

Correspondence to Jae-Won Byun, E-mail: jaewon8911@korea.kr

Volume 10, Number 2, Pages 43–50, June 2026.
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genomics 2026, 10(2), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.12972/jabng.2026.10.2.2
Received on June 02, 2026, Revised on June 16, 2026, Accepted on June 19, 2026, Published on June 30, 2026.
Copyright © 2026 Korean Society of Animal Breeding and Genetics.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0).

ABSTRACT

The application of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for precise individual identification and kinship verification in veterinary forensics is not yet fully established. To evaluate the forensic utility of genomic profiling, we analyzed WGS data from post-mortem feline tissues suspected of animal abuse, alongside domestic cat reference genomes, identifying over 4.7 million high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from approximately 34 million raw variants. First, we established clear genomic evidence for individual identity and familial relatedness among the fragmented tissues. Through comparative population genomic analysis incorporating diverse pre-existing cat breeds, we evaluated the genetic structure and lineage of the specimens. Furthermore, targeted genetic screening provided molecular evidence for specific morphological traits, such as coat color phenotypes, which reflects the physical characteristics of the unidentified animal remains. Collectively, these findings highlight the efficacy of WGS as a robust and comprehensive analytical tool in veterinary forensics, offering critical evidence for resolving complex animal cruelty cases.
KEYWORDS

Forensic genetics, Individual identification, Kinship verification, Single nucleotide polymorphism, Whole genome sequencing

INTRODUCTION

under publication

Section