Genetic Profiling in Disaster Victim Identification

Abstract

About 30 years ago, Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys described the first deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ‐profiling technique, and genetic profiling was soon implemented for immigration cases, paternity investigations and crime casework. Today, the methods have evolved from the original ‘DNA fingerprints’, to ‘DNA profiling’, which have been adopted as a standard procedure for human identification. New technological innovations, such as next‐generation sequencing, continue to improve the methods to be more efficient, such as throughput. In the disaster victim identification (DVI) context, DNA profiling is one of the primary tools in the aftermath of massive catastrophes and an important part in the process in repatriation of victims to their relatives. The first time DNA profiling was effectively used in a DVI process, was in 1990 in the identification of the victims of the fire on the Norwegian ferry ‘Scandinavian Star’. Since then, DNA profiling has been a mainstay in DVI work, and in some situations the method has proven to be the only doable method for victim identification. Key Concepts: Genetic profiling is a primary tool for identification of disaster victims. A common ante‐mortem (AM) sample is often samples collected from a close relative(s) of the missing person. Postmortem (PM) samples are appropriate tissue samples collected from the dead body or body part. Potential contamination should be minimised during all processes. AM samples and PM samples are analysed with the same genetic markers. STR markers are at present the most widely used markers for genetic profiling for DVI. A Bayesian approach regarding statistics (use of prior odds combined with genetic data) when evaluating associations between AM and PM genetic data, allows for an assessment of the strength of the alleged relationship in the identification process.