Page 159 - VERITAS Vol.2 Issue 2

OBSERVATION

On external examination, it was observed all bodies showed superfi-

cial to deep burn injuries with charring, complete blackening, and heat

ruptures exposing internal organs. Sex could be determined only of 4

bodies, 2 males and 2 females.

On internal examination, uterus and ovaries were observed in 14 cases

and prostate in 2 cases with the help of which preliminary sex alloca-
tion was done.

DNA from bone and tooth was analysed at 15 autosomal STR mark-

ers, D7S820, D19S433, CSF1PO, D13S317, D8S1179, VWA, TPOX,

D3S1358, D19S43, D5S818, TH01, FGA, D16S539, D2S1338 and

D18S51, which helped to establishing identity of 16 victims. X/Y spe-

cific amelogenin gene markers were used for sex determination.

DISCUSSION

Meticulous planning and execution by police personnel and medical

experts are required to establish identity in a mass casualty incident.

In this study, the bodies were charred causing both autolytic and dele-

terious changes, degrading the DNA. The advantage of using STR is it

resolves the DNA fragment by polyacrylamide gel, differing by as little
as one nucleotide in length allowing precise allele designation.

PCR provides better sensitivity and specificity for phenotyping and ge-

notyping techniques by enabling analysis of extensively degraded sam-

ples.

DNA samples are often extracted from the pulp tissue of the teeth (mo-

lar and premolar) as they are resistant to microbial action, incineration,
decomposition and weather changes. They are less likely to get con-

taminated as they are protected by dentin-the hardest structure of the

human body.

In this study, it was seen both internal and external examination helped

in sex determination but identifying the victim was not possible. Iden-

tification of all the seventeen victims was done by performing DNA

analysis by typing at 15 STR loci for each victim.
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Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2