Abstract

Forensic DNA analysis is widely used to determine kinship and the identity of evidence from the crime scene and it is especially important in the identification of human remains after different types of exposure (water, heat, etc.). Currently, there are no official recommendations for forensic scientists as to which bones and tissues are the most reliable among degraded DNA samples. Since 2014 more than 350 fragments of unidentified corpses have been examined in the Forensic Biological Department (Republic Bureau of Forensic Medicine, Kazan, Russia). Based on our experience, the most reliable and reproducible DNA profiles are obtained from lower limber bones (in 90% cases), muscles (in 85% cases) and ribs (in 80% cases). However, we discovered a new source of DNA – the odontoid process of the 2nd cervical vertebra, which contains a high amount of DNA with a better state of preservation than many other bones. According to our results, when a complete skeleton or unidentified corpse is found, it is advisable to provide bones with soft tissue remnants in the absence of deeply embedded putrefactive changes. When working at the crime scene, special attention should be paid to separating small bones and fragments from skeletal remains.

Highlights

  • Over the past 20 years, forensic genetic analysis has become the main method for kinship determination and human identification when working with human biological traces and unknown corpses

  • Beside the different stability of described genetic markers, the degree of DNA preservation in biological traces plays a key role in the effectiveness of forensic genotyping and this fact is especially important in DNA profiling of bones and corpse’s fragments after putrefactive changes during personal identification analysis [1]

  • Considering the fact that only a partial profile was obtained for autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (STR), hypervariable regions of Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were analyzed both in the blood vessel sample and person suspected to be the son, which showed complete a match in both samples so the identification of unknown corpse was determined by two types of DNA markers

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Summary

Introduction

Over the past 20 years, forensic genetic analysis has become the main method for kinship determination and human identification when working with human biological traces and unknown corpses. The degree of Y-STR preservation is much lower than for autosomal STR and this fact is especially noticeable in the analysis of highly degraded DNA samples. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers are significantly better preserved in biological traces compared to autosomal loci (especially in bones) due to their smaller size and multicopy per cell. Beside the different stability of described genetic markers, the degree of DNA preservation in biological traces plays a key role in the effectiveness of forensic genotyping and this fact is especially important in DNA profiling of bones and corpse’s fragments after putrefactive changes during personal identification analysis [1]

DNA profiling efficiency in human remains
Lower limb bones
Upper limb bones
Other fragments
Muscles and tissues
Case #1 The skeletonized human remains from the burial of an unknown soldier from
Findings
Conclusion

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