Researchers find new forensic tools to ID missing soldiers' remains

Hundreds of researchers at two military laboratories analyze bone fragments to reveal the names of skeletons of missing soldiers dating back to the civil war. Forensic anthropologists are using methods ranging from DNA to comparing bones to X-rays. 12,000 family members of 7600 service members missing from the civil war to the cold war have given DNA samples, but due to a lack of full participation by families the researchers are struggling to make matches. They are comparing the specific types of DNA, such as Y-DNA, which is paternally inherited, and mitochondrial DNA, which is maternally inherited. Mitochondrial DNA is the most reliable because it can be compared to other relatives and it does not deteriorate as quickly as nuclear or Y-DNA. They have been extracting DNA from items ranging from watches to old stamps to hearing aids. In cases where remains were stored in formaldehyde (which destroys DNA) they are using a process known as demineralization to undo some of the damage to find the DNA. They have also compared skulls to old photographs and bones to chest x-rays and dental records. In addition these researchers contributed in identifying remains in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and identifying remains of bodies in Southeast Asia after the 2004 Tsunami