Human identification through DNA analysis of teeth using powder-free method – A case study

Authors

  • Naresh Kumar Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Mandi
  • Arun Sharma Directorate of Forensics Services, Junga, Shimla – Himachal Pradesh - India

Keywords:

Blood, DNA, FTA, Paternity, Teeth.

Abstract

Change is the universal law of nature and human bodies after death cannot be an exception, when subjected to the vagaries of nature; however, hardest tissue are only hope to link and establish the issue of identity, paternity as well. A foreign national on a tourist visa to one of the Himalayan state went missing for a journey, he undertook on trekking route, passing through dense forest and his whereabouts could not trace inspite of the best efforts of search teams, due to inaccessible hilly terrain. Later on shepherds grazing his livestock in the forest area accidentally came across the fragmented remains of a human skeleton inform the villagers and then police. Teeth samples were collected during the autopsy and blood samples of putative child and wife of missing foreign national on FTA cards were supplied to DNA Division, State Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh to establish paternity from the teeth recovered from the skeleton remains. DNA profile obtained from blood sample of putative child on FTA card, blood sample on FTA (Flinders Technology Associates) card of wife of missing foreign national and from teeth showed complete and concordant match, which established paternity of the child and identity of skeleton. Human teeth are a good source of DNA for establishment of paternity.

Author Biography

Naresh Kumar, Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Mandi

Scientific Officer (DNA)

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Published

2021-02-21

How to Cite

Kumar, N., & Sharma, A. (2021). Human identification through DNA analysis of teeth using powder-free method – A case study. The Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology - JFOS, 39(1), 45: 52. Retrieved from https://ojs.iofos.eu/index.php/Journal/article/view/1285

Issue

Section

Tools and Techniques