Do you have contact with your counterparts in other
countries?

-- Eric Schulden


#FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

.§ THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

If my loved one has the same mtDNA as ten other reference
samples, how do you know that you actually identified the
right person?

-- Lara McMuffs


How long does it take to get a DNA match? We have been
told research is being conducted, but that was years ago and
we are still waiting.

-- Lara McMuffs


My case report says mtDNA was determined for several
bones, but then says Y-STR and auSTR were run for one
bone. Why don’t you analyze every single bone for each kind

of DNA?

-- Lara McMuffs


If submit a DNA sample, how do I know you aren't going to
use my DNA for other purposes, such as running it against a
criminal database?

-- Lara McMuffs


#FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

.§ THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

What about DNA mutations? If there are mutations in DNA,
how are you able to amke a match with someone who died
80 years ago?

-- Lara McMuffs


If a close “purple” family member has already donated a
DNA sample, is there any further benefit to other “purple”
family members also contributing a sample?

-- Dori LeBlanc


##FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

’ s§ THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

If you are using DNA technology, why do you need
anthropology? Can’t you just match the DNA for each bone
you find?

-- Lara McMuffs


Why aren’t you comparing mtDNA sequences against DNA
information through commericial sites like Ancestry.com
and 23andMe if you don't have a family reference sample?

-- Lara McMuffs


#FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

§ THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
Y¥ SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

How do I know the DNA in the bone you're analyzing is
actually from the bone and not from plants around the
remains or an animal or another person who died next to
my loved one? What about the person analyzing the DNA
or touching the remains? Does their DNA contaminate my
loved one’s skeleton? How can you be sure?

-- Lara McMuffs


#FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

.§ THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

My brother is MIA from the Korean War. My oldest sister
contributed her DNA, but she has since passed. Is her DNA
still on file for identification?

-- Joe Teague


##FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

’ s§ THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

My father’s brother is WWII MIA. I’m the only remaining
male. Is my DNA helpful at all in identifying my uncle’s
remains?

-- Mike Gillette


#FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

8 THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
Y¥ SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

Having veterans on all sides of my family and having
done mtDNA, is there any way you could use my DNA to
help? Would there be an opportunity to utilize volunteer
Y-chromosome and autosomal DNA for those with a long,

well-documented genealogy?

-- Casey Linder


#FORENSICFRIDAY Q&A WITH DR. TIM MCMAHON,

THE ARMED FORCES MEDICAL EXAMINER
SYSTEM’S DIRECTOR OF DNA OPERATIONS

Is it possible to do a DNA test with remains of WWII tankers
whose remains were completely burned?

-- Vincent Orriere