NCJ Number
225892
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 90-94
Date Published
January 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This research produced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profiles from materials of exploded pipe bombs in order to determine whether those who assembled the bombs could be identified based on the transfer of the assembler’s DNA to bomb materials in the course of assembling it.
Abstract
The results show the extreme sensitivity that mitochondrial DNA analysis has in identifying those who assemble improvised explosive devices (IEDs), along with precautions required when collecting and processing such evidence. Assemblers were correctly identified 50 percent of the time, and another 19 percent could be placed into a group of three individuals with shared haplotypes. Only one bomb was incorrectly assigned to an assembler. In some cases, a contaminating DNA profile (mixture) was observed. In almost all instances, recoverable mtDNA remained after bombs were detonated, an improvement over nuclear DNA markers. Due to mtDNA’s susceptibility to contamination from outside DNA sources, however, extensive precautions must be taken not only in the laboratory but also at the scene. The study involved the mock-assembling of steel pipe bombs by volunteers. The bombs were then detonated under controlled conditions. The resulting shrapnel was collected and swabbed for residual cellular material. Mitochondrial DNA profiles were generated and compared blind to the pool of individuals who assembled the bombs. The descriptions of materials and methods provide details on sample decontamination and preparation, DNA isolation and purification, and sample amplification and sequencing. 1 table, 2 figures, and 17 references