The Disaster Victim Identification using DNA Typing

Han, Myun Soo

Abstract

Disaster victim identification traditionally relies on the combined efforts of police, dentists and pathologists, comparing ante motem(AM) information from the missing persons with posts mortem(PM) data from the dead bodies. Victim identification by DNA typing was then followed by comparisons of traditional AM and PM data. DNA typing is a useful tool for determining the identity of human remains. However, the DNA, extracted from the human remains - all tissue including blood, semen, hair follicles, bone and soft tissue - is often partially or severely degraded. Samples containing limited amounts of degraded DNA are more suitable for analysis by DNA-amplification methods. DNA-amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was first described 10 years ago, PCR has significantly extended the possibilities of DNA typing of human remains. But DNA analysis, which is far more expensive and time-consuming than conventional means of identifying human remains, is not likely to become the primary tool for identifications in aviation disasters.