Individual identification of flood victims by DNA polymorphisms and autopsy findings.
On September 23rd 1993 Genova was flooded by heavy rainstorms and 4 people disappeared, including an elderly couple. Four days later a partially skeletonized body was found floating near the coast. No visual identification was possible. Autopsy findings were consistent with the medical history of a possible victim. DNA was extracted from a muscle sample and compared to paraffin embedded prostatic gland fragment taken by surgery. A positive identification could be made. On October 11th the body of a decomposed and partially skeletonized female was found. The visual identification was also uncertain and no clinical records were available. A blood sample from the son was obtained for maternal identification by the polymerase chain reaction.
Mannucci
A
A
Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università di Genova, Italy.
Casarino
L
L
Bruni
G
G
Lomi
A
A
De Stefano
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D004190:Disasters; D004332:Drowning / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010334:Paternity; D010375:Pedigree; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011180:Postmortem Changes
D005819:Genetic Markers