DNA Identifications After the 9/11 World Trade Center Attack

Abstract

The attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 challenged current approaches to forensic DNA typing methods. The large number of victims and the extreme thermal and physical conditions of the site necessitated special approaches to the DNA-based identification. Because of these and many additional challenges, new procedures were created or modified from routine forensic protocols. This effort facilitated the identification of 1594 of the 2749 victims. In this Policy Forum, the authors, who were were members of the World Trade Center Kinship and Data Analysis Panel, review the lessons of the attack response from the perspective of DNA forensic identification and suggest policies and procedures for future mass disasters or large-scale terrorist attacks.

Maximum-likelihood estimation of recent shared ancestry (ERSA)

“…Using genetic data to correct pedigree errors increases the power of disease mapping in families (Cherny et al 2001). Genetic identification of relatives has also proven invaluable in forensic identification of missing persons, victims of mass disasters, and suspects in criminal investigations (Biesecker et al 2005;Bieber et al 2006;Zupanic Pajnic et al 2010). Studies of conservation biology, quantitative genetics, and evolutionary biology are greatly illuminated when the recent shared ancestry between individuals can be reconstructed, especially in agricultural and wild populations (DeWoody 2005;Slate et al 2010).…”

The influence of high temperature on the possibility of DNA typing in various human tissues

“…In cases of crimes and random events (arsons, fires, air catastrophes) and particularly in terrorist attacks, high temperatures cause severe thermal degradation of biological material [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The main aim of this study was to investigate the availability of DNA isolated from various human tissue samples (thigh skeletal muscle, liver, cardiac muscle, adipose tissue with hypodermis fragments, hair, nails and fibula fragments) exposed to high temperatures of 100-1000°C for 5 and 10 minutes.…”

“…A remarkable example is the attack on the World Trade Center towers in 2001 and the problems with victim identification, which were largely associated with high temperatures (approx. 1100°C at Ground Zero) [4][5][6]. As a result of the high temperature exposure, the DNA available for analysis is highly thermally degraded and frequently present in very few copies.…”

The auditory ossicles as a DNA source for genetic identification of highly putrefied cadavers

“…Usually, identification can be established by comparison of ante-and post-mortem (AM and PM) data, such as specific external features like scars, tattoos, and fingerprints; medical implants; old injuries; dental status; and by means of genetic fingerprinting [1][2][3]. However, there are circumstances under which most of these methods fail or cannot be applied at all, e. g., in mass disasters with extreme conditions regarding temperature development and physical impacts, such as the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City [4,5], or simply due to a lack of ante-mortem data from persons without any prior dental or medical treatment [6]. In such cases, genetic investigation frequently is the only means to positively establish identity.…”