Forensic science is defined as the application of science to the law. It is the goal of the forensic scientist to identify and compare physical evidence and use the resulting observations to aid in solving criminal or civil matters. From its inception, forensic scientists have recognized the potential of capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a useful tool to assist in the analysis of a wide array of trace evidence samples [1,2]. This is particularly true for applications in forensic biology. In this discipline, biological fluids (blood, hair, semen) left behind at a crime scene are probed to establish the essential facts of the crime. Sample analysis is performed via extraction and analysis of the genetic material within these samples. The key to the procedure is targeting specific locations in the genome containing polymorphisms (different allelic forms) that permit differentiation between individuals. The statistical probability of an individual inheriting any given polymorphism can then be used to assess the evidence and compare it with known samples from victims and suspects. In the early years of DNAanalysis, the separation and sizing of DNAwas accomplished by slab gel electrophoresis. However, since 1998 CE has gradually taken over slab gel techniques in this field because of its ease of automation, minimal sample consumption (which is of utmost importance in the field), and its high-throughput capabilities.
