title: Epidemiology. 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.
authors.forename: Leslie G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Biesecker
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bailey-Wilson
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Frederick R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budowle
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carmody
authors.forename: P Michael
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Conneally
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duceman
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Kenneth K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leclair
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niezgoda
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shaler
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sherry
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sozer
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004189:Disaster Planning; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA