Identification of unknown body using DNA analysis and dental characteristics in chest X-ray photograph.
An unknown skeletonized body was identified by DNA analysis and dental information. The body had already been cremated when a candidate for the unknown body was proposed. Therefore, for DNA analysis we used teeth that had been kept for a long time after use for serological examination. We also used a chest X-ray photograph of the candidate and photographs of dentition, as well as dental X-ray photographs taken when the unknown body was found. Because DNA obtained from teeth was highly degraded, we amplified three PCR fragments to determine the 766 bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence including HV1 and HV2. Polymorphism of the ABO locus was also analyzed using small PCR fragments. Although the isolated DNA was contaminated, probably with DNA from a different individual, DNA polymorphisms of mtDNA and the ABO locus could be analyzed. We discuss the reliability of our conclusions from the point of view of the necessity of constructing an accurate mtDNA database. Although a dentist who had treated the teeth of the unknown body could not be found, a chest X-ray photograph for medical diagnosis was very useful in comparing dental characteristics, as it included an image of the frontal part of the lower jaw and upper teeth.
Minaguchi
Kiyoshi
K
Department of Forensic Odontology, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8502, Japan. minaguci@tdc.ac.jp
Maruyama
Sayaka
S
Kasahara
Iku
I
Nohira
Chizuru
C
Hanaoka
Yoichi
Y
Tsai
Tohkai
T
Kiriyama
Hitoshi
H
Takahashi
Nobuyuki
N
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D002102:Cadaver; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial