title: Genetic Identification of Communist Crimes' Victims (1944-1956) Based on the Analysis of One of Many Mass Graves Discovered on the Powazki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland.
abstract: As the result of the communist terror in Poland, during years 1944-1956 more than 50,000 people died. Their bodies were buried secretly, and most places are still unknown. The research presents the results of identification of people buried in one of many mass graves, which were found at the cemetery Powązki Military in Warsaw, Poland. Exhumation revealed the remains of eight people, among which seven were identified genetically. Well-preserved molars were used for the study. Reference material was collected from the closest living relatives. In one case, an exhumation of victim's parents had to be performed. DNA from swabs was extracted with a PrepFiler®BTA Forensic DNA Extraction Kit and organic method. Autosomal, Y-STR amplification, and mtDNA sequencing were performed. The biostatistical calculations resulted in LR values from 1608 to 928 × 1018. So far, remains of more than 50 victims were identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Genetics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.|The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ossowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Genetics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.|The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diepenbroek
authors.affiliation: The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.|Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow, Westerplatte Street 9, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kupiec
authors.affiliation: The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.|Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Stare Miasto 29, Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bykowska-Witowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Genetics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.|The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zielińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dembińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Molecular Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciechanowicz
mesh_terms: D055699:Cemeteries; D003415:Crime; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D008889:Military Personnel; D011044:Poland
keywords: 
  DNA
  ; 
  DVI
  ; 
  HID
  ; 
  STR
  ; Exhumation; communism; forensic science; victims of totalitarianism; war graves