Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the supplier from which a test animal-derived product sample originates, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a test methylation profile of one or more pre-selected methylation sites within the genomic material contained in the test animal-derived product sample; and (b) comparing the test methylation profile determined in (a) with a panel of predetermined reference methylation profiles of the same biological taxon of the test animal from which the product sample derives, wherein each of the predetermined reference methylation profiles is from a different reference animal and/or different supplier, wherein if the test methylation profile of (a) is significantly similar to one of the predetermined reference methylation profiles, the test animal-derived product sample is confirmed of originating from a first supplier from which a first reference animal with the predetermined reference profile is obtained.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for the identification of the geographic origin of an individual test subject or of an individual group of test subjects, the method comprising the comparison of a test methylation profile obtained from genomic material of the individual test subject or of the individual group of test subjects with one or more predetermined reference methylation profiles each being specific for a distinct geographic origin.