Forensic applications of mitochondrial DNA

Abstract

Human mitochondrial DNA has become a useful tool in forensic investigations. Its polymorphic nature and maternal inheritance are characteristics that have, combined with its sequence information, enabled investigators to identify missing persons, war casualties and individuals involved in mass disasters and criminal cases. Various screening procedures have been developed to reduce the need to sequence samples that do not match, but DNA-sequence information is still necessary to verify a match. Even though several challenges remain before mitochondrial-DNA-sequence information can be used unambiguously, comparative mitochondrial-DNA-sequence analysis appears to be a reliable and powerful means for human identification.