Criminalistics DB4 Name Class Date Professor Criminalistics DB4 In this homicide scene there is a badly burned body discovered in a field that appears to have also been shot several times. In order to determine what happened to the victim it is important to determine the identity of the victim. In order to identify the body one option is obtaining a DNA profile. DNA analysis in most cases will yield a DNA profile but similar to dental records unless there is a DNA profile to match determining the identity of the victim will be difficult. When conducting a DNA analysis of the deceased there are several places on the body were DNA can be collected from the hair to blood and in extreme case the bone marrow of the bones or the pulp of the tooth. Obtaining dental records and making a match is the simplest and least expensive approach but this approach is not always possible. After a DNA profile is created a match must be found. The type of DNA analysis is most useful on burned bodies is the RFLP (nonisotopic chemiluminescent) technique. The RFLP technique liquefies the bone marrow or tissue in order to analyze it for DNA (Boon, 2000). The serologists will need reference sample in order to match the DNA which can be obtained from a toothbrush or other personal hygiene item of potential victims. RFLP technique takes small amounts of DNA and creates an analysis that can be used to identify the extremely burned. The RFLP technique may not be useful in every condition but is the best technique for extracting DNA when most organs, blood, hair, etc. are not available (Minaguchi, 2005). Because the DNA is so delicate on the burned body it is important that a trained official collect and extract the evidence. The medical examiner would be more qualified then the crime scene investigator in collecting the necessary evidence needed to develop a DNA profile. It would be best to transfer the body to the lab and let a trained forensic technician extract the DNA needed to develop the profile. When making a match to the victim the maternal DNA from the mother is needed. Mitochondrial DNA is identified using mtDNA analysis which provides a full DNA profile. References Boon, K., Jaya, P., Kassin, B. & Seah, L. (2000). Identification of Severely Burned Bodies from a Vehicle Collision Using the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Technique. Forensic Science Communication, 2(3): 55-76 Minaguchi, K. (2005). Identification of unknown body using DNA analysis and dental characteristics in chest X-ray photograph. US National Library of Medicine, 46(4): 145-53 .

1. Criminalistics DB4
Name
Class
Date
Professor
Criminalistics DB4
In this homicide scene there is a badly burned body
discovered in a field that appears to have also been shot several
times. In order to determine what happened to the victim it is
important to determine the identity of the victim. In order to
identify the body one option is obtaining a DNA profile. DNA
analysis in most cases will yield a DNA profile but similar to
dental records unless there is a DNA profile to match
determining the identity of the victim will be difficult. When

2. conducting a DNA analysis of the deceased there are several
places on the body were DNA can be collected from the hair to
blood and in extreme case the bone marrow of the bones or the
pulp of the tooth.
Obtaining dental records and making a match is the simplest
and least expensive approach but this approach is not always
possible. After a DNA profile is created a match must be found.
The type of DNA analysis is most useful on burned bodies is the
RFLP (nonisotopic chemiluminescent) technique. The RFLP
technique liquefies the bone marrow or tissue in order to
analyze it for DNA (Boon, 2000). The serologists will need
reference sample in order to match the DNA which can be
obtained from a toothbrush or other personal hygiene item of
potential victims. RFLP technique takes small amounts of DNA
and creates an analysis that can be used to identify the
extremely burned.
The RFLP technique may not be useful in every condition
but is the best technique for extracting DNA when most organs,
blood, hair, etc. are not available (Minaguchi, 2005). Because
the DNA is so delicate on the burned body it is important that a
trained official collect and extract the evidence. The medical
examiner would be more qualified then the crime scene
investigator in collecting the necessary evidence needed to
develop a DNA profile. It would be best to transfer the body to
the lab and let a trained forensic technician extract the DNA
needed to develop the profile. When making a match to the
victim the maternal DNA from the mother is needed.
Mitochondrial DNA is identified using mtDNA analysis which
provides a full DNA profile.

3. References
Boon, K., Jaya, P., Kassin, B. & Seah, L. (2000). Identification
of Severely Burned Bodies from
a Vehicle Collision Using the Restriction Fragment Length
Polymorphism (RFLP)
Technique. Forensic Science Communication, 2(3): 55-76
Minaguchi, K. (2005). Identification of unknown body using
DNA analysis and dental
characteristics in chest X-ray photograph. US National
Library of Medicine, 46(4): 145-53