U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Maximizing the Use of Mitochondrial DNA in Identifying Remains and Aiding Missing Persons Casework
NCJ Number
              251656

Date Published

April 2018
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              After reviewing the benefits of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in missing persons casework, this fact sheet describes the benefits and future of an NIJ-funded project that developed a forensic-quality mtGenome population database.
Abstract
              With its basis of maternally inherited genetic information, mtDNA is particularly useful when traditional nuclear DNA analysis is unlikely to yield probative information. The high copy number of mtDNA in cells enables it to be recovered in biological evidence when nuclear DNA may be sparse or degraded. It is particularly suitable for missing persons casework, because even distant relatives can be used as references when no direct reference sample is available. Complete sequencing of the mitochondrial genome (mtGenome), which includes coding regions of the molecule, has been shown to be superior in distinguishing unrelated individuals. Although mtGenome sequence data have long been available in resources such as GenBank, they do not properly represent randomly sampled populations and do not meet the stringent data quality standards required for forensic use. In order to address this gap in population data, NIJ funded a project that developed a forensic-quality mtGenome population database with more than 500 complete mtGenomes that span three U.S. population groups. This database provides a foundation of forensically robust reference population data, with complete and accurate information that will ultimately improve discrimination between forensic samples with distinct maternal lineages. This complete mtGenome reference database will enable enhanced identification capabilities for laboratories that currently use mtDNA for identifying missing persons. This database will be continually improved by adding more forensic-quality mtGenome data developed by collaborating laboratories worldwide.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2011-MU-MU-K402
                                2016-MU-BX-K110


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Technical Assistance)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description
                                Factsheet


  
  
        
  Award
        Maximizing DNA Testing Potential with the Generation of High-Quality Genome Reference Data
                                Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) FY17
    
  
  
Date Published: April 1, 2018
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Ancestral DNA
        Databases
        DNA typing
        Forensic laboratories
        Forensic sciences



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Assessing Physical Fit Examinations of Stabbed and Torn Textiles Through a Large Dataset of Casework-like Items and Interlaboratory Studies
                  ICPUTRD: Image Cloud Platform for Use in Tagging and Research on Decomposition
                  A liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of up to eighteen cannabinoids in hemp-derived products
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov