Identification Of Human Remains Research Articles

Way forward in the involvement of forensic anthropology in the identification of human remains

ABSTRACT Forensic anthropology should not continue to be the last resource in the identification of a forensic case. The methods to be applied in a forensic case are dictated by the state of preservation of the human remains. Forensic anthropologists (and other forensic stakeholders) should be aware of a broad spectrum of methods, their scope and limitations, to be able to perform or recommend all approaches necessary for a successful identification. The value of the so-called secondary identifiers, best designated as biological identifiers, should be reconsidered. The importance of objectivity, and impartiality will be emphasized. During a death investigation, forensic anthropologists should always formulate deductions on the biological aspects of the body before acquiring antemortem information of missing persons to avoid bias in conclusions. To illustrate our arguments, a case study is presented, where expertise in forensic anthropology has been crucial for the identification of a body in advanced state of decomposition. In this case, interdisciplinary collaborative efforts and use of multiple identifiers have led to a positive identification.

Validation process of automatic DNA extraction from bone material using a new advanced protocol for the EZ2 Connect instrument

Identification of human remains using genetic methods is an important task of forensic science. DNA markers are proving essential in the identification of unknown human remains. However, environmental factors can lead to poor preservation of DNA, including in bone material. The aim of this study was therefore to compare two methods of DNA isolation from bone material: the traditional organic method and the new protocol using the EZ2 Connect instrument. The study involved three types of bone material, namely molars/premolars, petrous parts of the temporal bone and femurs, all with an estimated PMI of 70–80 years. Importantly, the biological material was obtained from three different environments, categorized as preserving, neutral and degrading, based on basic physico-chemical tests and the potential impact on the bone.The results obtained show that the DNA was best preserved in the petrous bone, followed by the teeth, and the femur. DNA extraction using the EZ2 Connect instrument with a new protocol gave slightly better results for the petrous bone, comparable results for the teeth and worse results for the femur compared to the organic method. Several protocol modifications were tested and optimal conditions for DNA isolation were proposed for the EZ2 protocol. Furthermore, the use of an automated method facilitated the effective accumulation of isolates and increased the chances of successful identification of unknown human remains.

Genetic identification of human remains from the Korean War.

The genetic identification of skeletal remains from Chinese People's Volunteers (CPVs) of the Korean War has been challenging because of the degraded DNA samples and the lack of living close relatives. This study established a workflow for identifying CPVs by combining Y-chromosome short tandem repeats (Y-STRs), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable regions I and II, autosomal STRs (aSTRs), and identity-informative SNPs (iiSNPs). A total of 20 skeletal remains of CPVs and 46 samples from their alleged relatives were collected. The success rate of DNA extraction from human remains was 100%. Based on Y-STRs, six remains shared the same male lineages with their alleged relatives. Meanwhile, mtDNA genotyping supports two remains sharing the same maternal lineages with their alleged relatives. Likelihood ratios (LRs) were further obtained from 27 aSTRs and 94 iiSNPs or 1936 iiSNPs to confirm their relationship. All joint pedigree LRs were >100. Finally, six remains were successfully identified. This pilot study for the systematic genetic identification of CPVs from the Korean War can be applied for the large-scale identification of CPVs in the future.

Operationalization of the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons' Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Capability for Human Remains Identification in Australia

Operationalization of the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons' Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Capability for Human Remains Identification in Australia

Genetic Kinship Testing Techniques for Human Remains Identification and Missing Persons Investigations

Genetic Kinship Testing Techniques for Human Remains Identification and Missing Persons Investigations

Investigative genetic genealogy for human remains identification.

Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) has emerged as a highly effective tool for tying a forensic DNA sample to an identity. While much of the attention paid to IGG has focused on cases where the DNA is from an unknown suspect, IGG has also been used to help close hundreds of unidentified human remains (UHR) cases. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data can be obtained from forensic samples using microarray genotyping or whole-genome sequencing (WGS) with protocols optimized for degraded DNA. After bioinformatic processing, the SNP data can be uploaded to public GG databases that allow law enforcement usage, where it can be compared with other users' data to find distant relatives. A genetic genealogist can then build the family trees of the relatives to narrow down the identity of the source of the forensic DNA sample. To date, 36 UHR identifications using IGG have been publicly announced. The same IGG techniques developed and refined for UHR cases have significant potential for disaster victim identification, where DNA is often extremely compromised, and close family references may not be available. This paper reviews the laboratory, bioinformatic, and genealogical techniques used in IGG for UHR cases and presents three case studies that demonstrate how IGG is assisting with remains identification.

Investigating the Reliability and Validity of the Portable Osteometric Device

ABSTRACT Metric analysis of skeletal material is integral to the analysis and identification of human remains, though one commonly used measuring device, the osteometric board, has lagged in recent advancement. Traditional boards are bulky and require manual measurement recording, potentially generating intra- and interobserver error. To address these limitations, we tested the reliability, validity, and error rates of a novel device, the Portable Osteometric Device Version 1 (PODv1), which measures distance using laser sensors with time-of-flight technology. Forty-five volunteers measured four skeletal elements with the PODv1 and a PaleoTech osteometric board in three rounds. Comparison of tibia, humerus, and femur measurements with both devices showed no significant differences, although the maximum length of the ulna did differ, potentially because of observer confusion regarding the PODv1's user instructions for this element. Our results suggest that the PODv1 is a reliable, valid measurement device compared to traditional osteometric boards. Although both device types can produce calibration, transcription, and observer errors, the time-of-flight technology and the absence of manual recording built into the PODv1 may limit those errors. These advancements and their potential positive impacts on the accuracy of osteometric data collection may have far-reaching benefits for osteological, bioarchaeological, paleopathological, and forensic anthropological data collection.

Age and Gender Estimation Using the Osseous Microanatomy: Original Research

ABSTRACT Aim: This study was performed with the idea of assessing age and gender utilizing differences in osseous microanatomy in human jawbones. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively among human jawbone samples. Various morphometric assessments such as trabecular width, marrow space, and their corelation were studied. In the samples, variations among osteon numbers, differences in the shapes of the osteocytes of jawbones, and amount of inflammation in the bony areas were recorded. Results: It was noted in this study that mean values of the diameter of the Haversian canal and vessel density had a noteworthy increase in female jawbone samples. The amount of osteocytes in both female and male bone samples was also statistically significant in terms of the correlation coefficient. Conclusion: We concluded that more sensitive identification of human remains, that is, age and gender analysis, can be performed by histomorphometric evaluation of bone remains.

Assessment of the efficiency of DNA isolation and profiling applying a temperature-driven method in human remains.

The identification of human remains is of utmost importance in a variety of scenarios. One of the primary identification methods is DNA. DNA extraction from human remains could be difficult, particularly in situations where the remains have been exposed to environmental conditions and other insults. Several studies tried to improve extraction by applying different approaches. ForensicGEM Universal (MicroGem) is a single-tube approach to DNA extraction and a temperature-driven method that could have some advantages with respect to previous techniques, among them, reducing the risk of contamination, not requiring specialized equipment, or several steps to perform. The aim of this study was to assess, for the first time, the efficiency of DNA extraction and quality of STR profiles applying the MicroGem protocol and modifications of this protocol from tooth samples in comparison with automatic extraction (AE). Our results indicated that AE and MicroGem performed similar, though with variability depending on the MicroGem modifications, increasing the DNA yield and STR profile quality when DNA is concentrated with Microcon. These findings demonstrated the efficiency of this methodology for DNA extraction from human remains while also providing a simple and quick technique suitable to apply in a variety of forensic scenarios.

Forensic Anthropology Cases in Uruguay: An Update (1992-2023)

The article presents an update of a quantitative analysis of the forensic anthropology cases that occurred in Uruguay from 1992 to 2023. The number of forensic anthropology cases has rapidly increased in Uruguay. Over 30 years this number had rise from 14 cases in 1992 to 75 cases in 2023, reached a maximum number of cases in 2006 and 2013, ascending to 91 cases for each year. Forensic anthropology cases processed between 1992 and 2023 at the Judicial Morgue of Montevideo ascending at the present to 1752. The Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology at the Judicial Morgue of Montevideo City was created in 1992, as a response to the need to address the backlog of cases. Since 1992 all the remains were analyzed to determine sex, stature and age at the time of death and, eventually the identity of the remains. In cases where a positive identification was made, a forensic anthropology analysis was also performed. The purpose of this paper is to describe the place of forensic anthropology in the Uruguayan medico-legal system, the evolution an increase of the number of cases from 1992 to 2023 and, to show its effectiveness in identification of human remains.

Corpse identification in mass disasters and other violence: the ethical challenges of a humanitarian approach.

In October 2022, the Centre for Ethics of Yenepoya University hosted a national workshop entitled: "Respect for human dignity of the unidentified dead from mass disasters and other violence: strategies for the ethical management of biological samples and personal data". The aim was to explore and share experience and ethical considerations regarding the management and identification of human remains in the event of disasters, with the purpose to arrive at a general consensus about what constitutes the ethical foundation of the management of unidentified human remains in forensic practice and, in particular, contextualizing this in India. The main ethical consideration that emerged was tracing the missing and identifying the dead are crucial to maintaining or restoring basic human rights and responsible relief activities. Identification is not only an organizational and scientific achievement but, regardless of circumstances, also necessarily and always an activity with significant political, epistemic, and philosophical relevance and consequence. In India, it could be important to consider new legal provisions for the management of human samples so that this would provide a starting point for the treatment of human remains managed for forensic purposes with uniformity in the country. Another important step in which governments should take part regards the involvement and education of the general public to develop their interest in this important goal. In the field of forensic anthropology, artificial intelligence can support, through the use of algorithms, the decision-making process that leads to the identification of the victim or its remains. Furthermore, they can be used to extract new knowledge from huge databases and shorten identification through computer automation of data binding activities. Applying artificial intelligence tools in forensic sciences to collect new information from massive datasets to enhance knowledge, and reduce human subjectivity and errors, provides a greater scientific basis that could improve the strength of the evidence and support the admissibility of expert evidence. In light of the general lack of national/international guidance about ethical oversight for identification and care of human remains, the fact that regulations are frequently not adequate to govern ethical aspects, we hope that an internationally recognized body should develop such guidance in collaboration with relevant organizations.

Morphometry of proximal femur and correlations of the head neck shaft assemblage

Introduction: Recent times have shown an increased incidence of proximal femur pathologies. The morphology and morphometry of the proximal femur is an important component of hip biomechanics. Altered diameters and angles affect the range of motion and have been found to be causative in hip pathologies. Understanding femoral shape and orientation can help to predict degenerative diseases, relate to hip instability, in designing hip replacement implants, in preoperative planning and for forensic identification of human remains. This study aimed at determining the morphometric parameters of proximal femur and to analyse the correlations between measured parameters. Materials and Methods: Measurements were made on 120 dry adult human femora of unknown sex (Right-60, Left-60). Transverse and vertical diameters of the head and neck and anterior and posterior neck lengths were measured using digital vernier calliper and neck-shaft angle was measured using a goniometer. Measurements were statistically analysed. Correlation coefficient was used to analyse the relationship among variables. Results: Mean vertical and transverse diameters of head were 43.23 mm and 43.16 mm and Mean Anterior and Posterior neck lengths were 28.37 mm and 35.81 mm respectively. Mean Neck shaft angle was 128.82. On comparison between sides, statistically significant differences were observed in neck shaft angle and anterior neck length measurements. Correlation between neck shaft angle and neck length as well as between neck shaft angle and head diameters revealed variable patterns on left and right sides. Conclusions: Our study has found a significant difference in anterior length of neck in left and right femur as well as a substantial and statistically significant positive correlation was observed between anterior neck length and neck shaft angle of the right femur. Keywords : Femur, Morphometry, Vernier, Goniometer, Hip, Prosthesis

Metric evaluation of permanent canines for sexual estimation in the Collection “Prof. Dr. Romulo Lambre”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

IntroductionSex estimation is a fundamental aspect of forensic work as a mandatory step for the identification of human remains of unknown origin. The methodological analysis of the dentition as a sexual estimator is important due to its high degree of preservation. Considering the need for specific information regarding the potential of dentition for sex estimation in forensic cases from Argentina, the aim of this study is to evaluate the proposal previously developed by Luna (2019) in a local sample of human skeletal remains. Materials and methodsA sample of 152 permanent canines belonging to 98 individuals of both sexes was selected. The individuals belong to the Prof. Dr. Rómulo Lambre osteological collection (La Plata, Argentina). Luna's proposal (2019) was applied to estimate sex from canine crown and neck metrics, which considers direct measurements and different types of discriminant functions and logistic regressions. ResultsOnly the cervical mesiodistal diameter showed acceptable results (>75%) for sex estimation. Moreover, discriminant function 1 showed a posteriori probabilities of correct classifications greater than 0.75 and logistic regressions 1 and 3 offered acceptable overall results. ConclusionsThis proposal based on the metric recording of permanent canines constitutes an adequate methodological alternative in situations in which the diagnostic bone elements of sex are deteriorated or absent.

Operationalisation of the ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kit for Australian unidentified and missing persons casework

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping technologies can generate investigative leads for human remains identification, including estimation of biological sex, biogeographical ancestry (BGA), externally visible characteristics (EVCs), identity, uniparental lineage and extended kinship. The ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kit provides forensic laboratories with the ability to apply this suite of genetic tools to forensic samples using one panel targeting 10,230 SNPs (including 56 ancestry-informative, 24 phenotype-informative, 94 identity-informative, 106 X chromosome, 85 Y chromosome and 9867 kinship-informative SNPs) sequenced on the MiSeq FGx® Sequencing System. The ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kit has been internally validated, optimised and operationalised by the Australian Federal Police National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons (AFP Program) for coronial casework. The internal validation was conducted according to the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods guidelines (excluding mixture analysis), focussing on sample types typically encountered in human remains identification casework, such as bones, teeth, nail, blood and hair. The workflow was optimised for a high throughput library preparation and sequencing workflow, and additional analytical thresholds were developed to improve genotyping accuracy for low DNA input samples. Additionally, the genetic intelligence generated from the kit was compared to the self-declared biological sex, EVCs and BGA of the DNA donors to assess concordance. The kit was able to produce high quality SNP profiles from 1.0 ng down to 0.1 ng of DNA, with high repeatability and reproducibility, and minimal background noise. The prediction accuracy for biological sex (95%), hair colour (58%), eye colour (74%) and BGA inferences (consistent: 74%; partially consistent: 10%; inconclusive: 16%) was determined based on self-declared data. Additionally, SNP profiles from a volunteer family group of ten related individuals were uploaded to GEDmatch PRO™ to assess kinship accuracy. The kit was capable of detecting (97%) and accurately classifying (90%) genetic relationships spanning from first to fifth degree. The Kintelligence Kit provides the AFP Program with a robust and reliable genetic intelligence tool for unidentified and missing persons investigations, which has been designed to sequence multiple challenging samples in a single multiplexed assay using existing laboratory instrumentation.

Assessment of sex and sexual dimorphism in children from Tamilnadu, India through odontometrics in primary dentition - a cross sectional study with discriminant function analysis.

One of the crucial steps in the process of identification of human remains is sex determination of an unknown individual. Sex can be determined using the human skeleton, especially by examining the pelvis and skull. Odontometric analysis and assessment of sexual dimorphism of the human dentition has been less investigated, especially in primary dentition. Hence, this research was designed to verify the presence of sexual dimorphism through odontometric approach in paediatric population of Tamil Nadu, India.The present study was performed on 229 females and 244 males between 3 and 6years of age. Linear measurements such as maximum mesio distal width, maximum bucco lingual width and clinical crown length were measured inall the primary teeth. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Mann-Whitney-U test was used to check the statistical significance of the differences observed between males and females. Six equations were derived by discriminant function analysis for practical use.Sexual dimorphism existed in odontometric parameters of primary dentition. The maximum sexual dimorphism was observed in maximum bucco lingual width of 51 and maximum bucco lingual width of 75. The equations derived using discriminant function analysis yielded a jackknife accuracy ranging between 87.5% and 99.8%. These equations may be used to assess the sex from the children of Tamil Nadu, India.

Study of Root Transparency in Different Postmortem Intervals Using Scanning Electron Microscopy.

In the fields of forensics, the identification of human remains is a recurrent problem. The estimated age at death is one of the copious criteria to be evaluated. In adult teeth, the height of the root dentin transparency is used to estimate age. However, in archaeological material, this phenomenon appears inconstant. The aim of this work was to observe the structural modifications of the sclerotic dentin in the teeth for different postmortem intervals. The study included two parts (retrospective and prospective study) with 21 human monoradicular teeth, from bodies donated to medical science with postmortem intervals (PMIs) of 0, 1, 2 and 5 years and archeological excavation. After inclusion based on resin, section and polishing, the samples were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) JSM-7800F®, and the procedure was completed via a semiquantitative analysis of calcium and phosphorus using EDX microanalysis. The analysis showed the existence of tubular and chemical modifications of sclerotic dentin at different PMIs. Our SEM study allowed us to observe a difference in tubule aspects linked to an increased PMI: the loss of peritubular collar and the lumen obstruction of tubules with a hyperdense material. Microanalysis highlighted variations in phosphocalcic ratios among the different groups, especially in the pulp area and the canine. Our hypotheses that explain these differences are based on the postmortem modifications of the crystals of the mineral phase of sclerotic dentin under the influence of chemical and/or bacterial action.

Evaluation of a High-Throughput Dense Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism PCR Multiplex Next Generation Sequencing Application for Human Remains Identification

Evaluation of a High-Throughput Dense Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism PCR Multiplex Next Generation Sequencing Application for Human Remains Identification

Stature Estimation from Femur and Tibia Bone Using Regression Equation Method: A Pilot Study

Anthropometry plays a crucial role in the field of forensic anthropology, particularly in the identification of human remains. Among the various parameters used for personal identification, stature holds significant importance. It is a key factor in medico-legal investigations, especially when dealing with unknown fragmentary and mutilated remains. The objective of present pilot study was to develop a mathematical formula for estimating human stature based on the measurement of long bones, specifically the femur and tibia. A sample of 150 randomly selected girls, aged between 18 and 24 years, was chosen from Nagpur’s Institute of Forensic Science, Maharashtra. The length of the right tibia and femur bones was measured, calculated and regression formulae was derived to estimate stature for the female population of Maharashtra. To assess the relationship between bone length and stature, Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed and revealed regression coefficient (r) of 0.92 for the femur and 0.77 for the tibia, indicating a significant positive correlation between bone length and stature. Consequently, the findings of this study demonstrate that the length of the femur and tibia bones can serve as reliable predictors for estimating the stature of an individual. In conclusion, anthropometric measurements, particularly those involving long bones such as the femur and tibia, hold immense value in the identification of human remains in the field of forensic anthropology.

An interdisciplinary forensic approach for human remains identification and missing persons investigations

AbstractThe resolution of unidentified human remains (UHR) and long‐term missing persons (LTMP) cases is paramount for administrative, legal, and humanitarian reasons. There are various forensic profiling methods for human identification; however, their utility is dependent on several factors. First, UHR can be found in different stages of decomposition, so the availability and diversity of post‐mortem (PM) information will differ. Second, the availability and totality of the LTMP's ante‐mortem (AM) information will differ. Therefore, the suitability of existing methods will be dependent on the quality and quantity of PM and/or AM data available for comparison. Visual recognition is the simplest and quickest method, but typically not practiced or possible, owing to the altered, fragmented, or skeletonized state of UHR. Primary forensic profiling methods involve the comparison of fingerprint, dental, DNA, and medical data. Secondary forensic profiling methods from anthropology, radiology, geochemistry, and anatomy disciplines can provide supplementary evidence to support comparative identification approaches. Emerging forensic molecular technologies such as genomics, microbiomics, epigenetics, and proteomics, together with individual digital footprints from personal devices, offer new investigative leads for establishing identity. However, despite the success of these individual methods, their limitations must be considered when used in isolation. Through the development of a guiding forensic examination framework, this review endorses an interdisciplinary response to unidentified and missing persons investigations, where various forensic specialists collaboratively examine UHR using a suite of contemporary forensic profiling methods to produce multiple and/or different lines of evidence to link them effectively, efficiently, comprehensively, and systematically to LTMP.This article is categorized under:Forensic Science in Action/Crime Scene Investigation > Special Situations and InvestigationsForensic Biology > DNA Testing in Disaster Victim and Missing Persons IdentificationForensic Medicine > Medicolegal Death Investigation SystemsJurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The importance of forensic odontology in identifying the victims of mass disasters

The article presents the issues related to the identification of victims thanks to odontological expertise. The development of genetics gives forensics a great tool, which is the analysis of the genetic profile of DNA, which categorically enables the identification of human remains. However, this type of test is not possible in all cases. It is only applicable for the preservation of soft tissues, otherwise the preserved dentition will be an excellent identification material. The method is often used when identifying bodies exposed to high temperatures and in advanced decomposition. The development of odontological expertise would be impossible without the contribution of eminent dentists, such as Adolf Zsigmondy. By developing the first graphical tooth marking system, he paved the way for today's TDS and UNS systems. A good dentition classification system is an indispensable tool for odontologists and dentists working on the identification of cadavers and is directly related to the need to use comparative materials, also key in the effective identification of cadavers, and sometimes human remains. These are data obtained from dental offices, in the form of comprehensive information about patients - their dental treatment cards, orthodontic casts, fragments of dentures and crowns, X-rays, etc. and enriched through dental databases. As a result, the odontological expertise and its development enable the effective identification of about 60% of the corpses examined with the help of this procedure, when DNA material cannot be used for this purpose.