This review focuses on recent developments in forensic DNA typing. It highlights important recent advances and issues in forensic human identification and identifies representative papers. It is not intended to be comprehensive. The review is divided into several important topic areas. These include developments in forensic serology using RNA, proteomic, and Epigenetic markers, and methods for human identification using short tandem repeats, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and insertion deletions. Sequencing methods for autosomal DNA, sex linked DNA, and mitochondrial DNA are included as well as for the human microbiome. New technologies are also featured, such as real time PCR, microfluidics, integrated rapid PCR systems, and massively parallel sequencing. Expert systems have also been developed to assist with the analysis of data from these complex analytical tools.