Missing persons identification: genetics at work for society.

Abstract

The genetic molecular tools that have been applied to the forensic field have had a beneficial impact, including the exoneration of innocent people, identification of offenders, and establishment of criminal databases. However, regardless of the anonymous nature of DNA profile data and the security measures in place, misuse of the data and mishandling of samples are possible threats to social and individual rights, as Andrew Watson discusses in his News Focus article “A new breed of high-tech detectives” (11 Aug., p. 850). But one application that does not compromise social or personal rights offers a valuable tool for the identification of missing persons and human remains ([1][1]). In 1999, Spain started a national program to try to identify cadavers and human remains that could not be identified with traditional forensic approaches. Named for the classical Greek myth, the Phoenix Program is based on the fact that mitochondria, which are present in every cell and have their own mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), are inherited strictly from the mother. Two mtDNA databases are being generated: a reference database, which contains mtDNA sequences from maternal relatives of missing persons who provide the samples (buccal swabs) voluntarily after signing an informed consent form, and a questioned database, which contains mtDNA data from unknown human remains and cadavers. These data can be automatically compared to search for identical or similar mtDNA sequences ([2][2]). Although the first phase of this program (typing of all unidentified human remains) will not be completed until December 2001, positive identifications have already been made. International collaboration in this endeavor—the generation of internationally compatible databases—could make this effort valuable worldwide. 1. [↵][3]1. C. Cattaneo 2. et al. , Int. J. Legal Med. 113, N1 (1997, 2000); [OpenUrl][4] 1. B. Olaissen 2. et al. , Nature Genet. 15 402. 2. [↵][5]1. M. R. Wilson 2. et al. , Int. J. Legal Med. 108, 68 (1995). [OpenUrl][6][CrossRef][7][PubMed][8][Web of Science][9] 3. Further information available (in Spanish) at . [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [4]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DInt.%2BJ.%2BLegal%2BMed.%26rft.volume%253D113%26rft.spage%253DN1%26rft.atitle%253DINT%2BJ%2BLEGAL%2BMED%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [5]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [6]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DInternational%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Blegal%2Bmedicine%26rft.stitle%253DInt%2BJ%2BLegal%2BMed%26rft.aulast%253DWilson%26rft.auinit1%253DM.%2BR.%26rft.volume%253D108%26rft.issue%253D2%26rft.spage%253D68%26rft.epage%253D74%26rft.atitle%253DValidation%2Bof%2Bmitochondrial%2BDNA%2Bsequencing%2Bfor%2Bforensic%2Bcasework%2Banalysis.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1007%252FBF01369907%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F8547161%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [7]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1007/BF01369907&link_type=DOI [8]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=8547161&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F290%2F5500%2F2257.3.atom [9]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=A1995RZ20800003&link_type=ISI