DNA Identification of Commingled Human Remains from the Cemetery Relocated by Flooding in Central Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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| Authors: | Jasmina ?akar PhD Amela Pilav MA Mirela D?ehverovi? BA Anesa Ahatovi? MA Sanin Haveri? PhD Jasmin Rami? MSc Damir Marjanovi? PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;2. Francuske revolucije bb, International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;3. Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia |
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| Abstract: | The floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2014 caused landslides all over the country. In the small village of ?eri?i, near the town of Zenica, a landslide destroyed the local cemetery, relocated graves, and commingled skeletal remains. As the use of other physical methods of identification (facial recognition, fingerprint analysis, dental analysis, etc.) was not possible, DNA analysis was applied. DNA was isolated from 20 skeletal remains (bone and tooth samples) and six reference samples (blood from living relatives) and amplified using PowerPlex® Fusion and PowerPlex®Y23 kits. DNA profiles were generated for all reference samples and 17 skeletal remains. A statistical analysis (calculation of paternity, maternity, and sibling indexes and matching probabilities) resulted in 10 positive identifications. In this study, 5 individuals were identified based on one reference sample. This has once again demonstrated the significance of DNA analysis in resolving the most complicated cases, such as the identification of commingled human skeletal remains. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science DNA identification skeletal remains floods landslides |
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