Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking

Currently, the legal framework for protecting natural resources from human assault is being developed at the international level. However, the statistical data on the sentencing of persons convicted on the territory of the Russian Federation under Articles 258 and 258.1 of the Criminal Code of the R...

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Main Authors: Sergei V. Aramilev, Viktoriya V. Gulevskaya, Georgii G. Omel’yanyuk, Anna A. Rybakova, Irina V. Storozhenko
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science 2021-11-01
Series:Теория и практика судебной экспертизы
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Online Access:https://www.tipse.ru/jour/article/view/685
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author Sergei V. Aramilev
Viktoriya V. Gulevskaya
Georgii G. Omel’yanyuk
Anna A. Rybakova
Irina V. Storozhenko
author_facet Sergei V. Aramilev
Viktoriya V. Gulevskaya
Georgii G. Omel’yanyuk
Anna A. Rybakova
Irina V. Storozhenko
author_sort Sergei V. Aramilev
collection DOAJ
description Currently, the legal framework for protecting natural resources from human assault is being developed at the international level. However, the statistical data on the sentencing of persons convicted on the territory of the Russian Federation under Articles 258 and 258.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in 2020 given in the article indicates: the crimes causing the reduction in the number of animal populations, and as a result, the loss of biodiversity, are challenging to prove; a small number of perpetrators are brought to criminal responsibility; punishment in the form of imprisonment is imposed only in isolated cases. However, using molecular genetic research methods for the biological material of wild animals, it is possible to fill in a significant part of the missing information or obtain new evidentiary information about the circumstances of crimes, including illegal hunting. The application of the DNA barcoding method, developed in the early 2000s, makes it possible to establish the taxonomic affiliation of living organisms when it is impossible to do this by classical methods, for example, if the organism is represented by a micro-number of biological tissues, and is also at the stages of the life cycle (egg, larva, embryo) with an insufficient number of morphological features. Thus, advanced DNA technologies allow us to obtain a considerable amount of previously inaccessible information.The issue of the illegal wild animal trafficking sold as “raised in captivity” is relevant for the pet industry and zoos and has implications both for animal welfare and the preservation of the natural environment. Methods based on the DNA analysis can also be applied for solving problems related to establishing the source of origin of the animal, in some cases – its habitat. The article provides cases from expert practice of ANO “Amur Tiger” when using molecular genetic methods of wild animal analysis allowed solving investigative and judicial tasks.
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spelling doaj-art-9452e5457ee04a0ca0a6d6e9ef0e27f92025-08-20T03:18:23ZrusMinistry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Russian Federal Centre of Forensic ScienceТеория и практика судебной экспертизы1819-27852587-72752021-11-01163627210.30764/1819-2785-2021-3-62-72596Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal TraffickingSergei V. Aramilev0Viktoriya V. Gulevskaya1Georgii G. Omel’yanyuk2Anna A. Rybakova3Irina V. Storozhenko4Autonomous noncommercial organization “Amur Tiger”The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University); Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU)The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian FederationThe Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian FederationCurrently, the legal framework for protecting natural resources from human assault is being developed at the international level. However, the statistical data on the sentencing of persons convicted on the territory of the Russian Federation under Articles 258 and 258.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in 2020 given in the article indicates: the crimes causing the reduction in the number of animal populations, and as a result, the loss of biodiversity, are challenging to prove; a small number of perpetrators are brought to criminal responsibility; punishment in the form of imprisonment is imposed only in isolated cases. However, using molecular genetic research methods for the biological material of wild animals, it is possible to fill in a significant part of the missing information or obtain new evidentiary information about the circumstances of crimes, including illegal hunting. The application of the DNA barcoding method, developed in the early 2000s, makes it possible to establish the taxonomic affiliation of living organisms when it is impossible to do this by classical methods, for example, if the organism is represented by a micro-number of biological tissues, and is also at the stages of the life cycle (egg, larva, embryo) with an insufficient number of morphological features. Thus, advanced DNA technologies allow us to obtain a considerable amount of previously inaccessible information.The issue of the illegal wild animal trafficking sold as “raised in captivity” is relevant for the pet industry and zoos and has implications both for animal welfare and the preservation of the natural environment. Methods based on the DNA analysis can also be applied for solving problems related to establishing the source of origin of the animal, in some cases – its habitat. The article provides cases from expert practice of ANO “Amur Tiger” when using molecular genetic methods of wild animal analysis allowed solving investigative and judicial tasks.https://www.tipse.ru/jour/article/view/685objects of animal originwild animals traffickingforensic molecular – genetic analysisthe dna barcodethe dnataxonomic affiliation
spellingShingle Sergei V. Aramilev
Viktoriya V. Gulevskaya
Georgii G. Omel’yanyuk
Anna A. Rybakova
Irina V. Storozhenko
Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking
Теория и практика судебной экспертизы
objects of animal origin
wild animals trafficking
forensic molecular – genetic analysis
the dna barcode
the dna
taxonomic affiliation
title Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking
title_full Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking
title_fullStr Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking
title_full_unstemmed Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking
title_short Tapping the Potential of the Molecular Genetic Expert Research of Objects of Animal Origin in the Fight against Their Illegal Trafficking
title_sort tapping the potential of the molecular genetic expert research of objects of animal origin in the fight against their illegal trafficking
topic objects of animal origin
wild animals trafficking
forensic molecular – genetic analysis
the dna barcode
the dna
taxonomic affiliation
url https://www.tipse.ru/jour/article/view/685
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