DNA Identification of Hurricane Katrina Victims
Identifying the deceased in submerged New Orleans is proving to be more difficult than previous disasters. Heat and humidity accelerate the decomposition of bodies and DNA by bacteria and make it impossible to take blood samples from the chambers of the heart.
In place of blood, bone samples will be used instead. Both mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome analyses will be conducted, examining the relationships between mothers-children and fathers-sons respectively. Fortunately, mitochondrial DNA does not degrade as quickly as genomic DNA found in the nucleus of cells.
Beyond biological obstacles, political obstacles exist as well. The Wall Street Journal reports that officials still have no plans in place to collect samples from potential relatives of victims.
Wired News, September 9, 2005
Related Stories
POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health
.gif)
0 opinions for DNA Identification of Hurricane Katrina Victims
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: