Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier

Odile M. Loreille; Ryan L. Parr; Kevin A. McGregor; Colleen M. Fitzpatrick; Chriss Lyon; Dongya Y. Yang; Camilla F. Speller; Michael R. Grimm; Michael J. Grimm; Jodi A. Irwin; Edward M. Robinson

doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01356.x

Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier

Odile M. Loreille, Ryan L. Parr, Kevin A. McGregor, Colleen M. Fitzpatrick, Chriss Lyon, Dongya Y. Yang, Camilla F. Speller, Michael R. Grimm, Michael J. Grimm, Jodi A. Irwin, Edward M. Robinson

Archaeology

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Abstract

This report describes the identification of a merchant mariner who perished in 1948 when Northwest Airlines Flight 4422, a DC-4 carrying 24 seamen and six crew members crashed into Mount Sanford, Alaska. Fifty-one years later, a human forearm and hand were found close by the wreckage of the plane, prompting identification efforts using DNA and fingerprints. There were significant challenges to both the fingerprint and DNA analyses. The hand was badly desiccated, making fingerprint friction-ridge detail almost invisible and the remains had been embalmed upon discovery, making DNA amplification difficult. We present the results of an interdisciplinary approach that successfully addressed these challenges and ultimately led to the identification of the remains. These efforts relied on efficient fingerprint rejuvenation and imaging techniques that improved print resolution, as well as new DNA extraction techniques optimized for aggressively embalmed remains.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	813-818
Number of pages	6
Journal	JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
Volume	55
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01356.x
Publication status	Published - May 2010

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Loreille, O. M., Parr, R. L., McGregor, K. A., Fitzpatrick, C. M., Lyon, C., Yang, D. Y., Speller, C. F., Grimm, M. R., Grimm, M. J., Irwin, J. A., & Robinson, E. M. (2010). Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier. JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, 55(3), 813-818. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01356.x

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title = "Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier",

abstract = "This report describes the identification of a merchant mariner who perished in 1948 when Northwest Airlines Flight 4422, a DC-4 carrying 24 seamen and six crew members crashed into Mount Sanford, Alaska. Fifty-one years later, a human forearm and hand were found close by the wreckage of the plane, prompting identification efforts using DNA and fingerprints. There were significant challenges to both the fingerprint and DNA analyses. The hand was badly desiccated, making fingerprint friction-ridge detail almost invisible and the remains had been embalmed upon discovery, making DNA amplification difficult. We present the results of an interdisciplinary approach that successfully addressed these challenges and ultimately led to the identification of the remains. These efforts relied on efficient fingerprint rejuvenation and imaging techniques that improved print resolution, as well as new DNA extraction techniques optimized for aggressively embalmed remains.",

author = "Loreille, {Odile M.} and Parr, {Ryan L.} and McGregor, {Kevin A.} and Fitzpatrick, {Colleen M.} and Chriss Lyon and Yang, {Dongya Y.} and Speller, {Camilla F.} and Grimm, {Michael R.} and Grimm, {Michael J.} and Irwin, {Jodi A.} and Robinson, {Edward M.}",

year = "2010",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01356.x",

language = "English",

volume = "55",

pages = "813--818",

journal = "JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES",

issn = "0022-1198",

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Loreille, OM, Parr, RL, McGregor, KA, Fitzpatrick, CM, Lyon, C, Yang, DY, Speller, CF, Grimm, MR, Grimm, MJ, Irwin, JA & Robinson, EM 2010, 'Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 813-818. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01356.x

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T1 - Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier

AU - Loreille, Odile M.

AU - Parr, Ryan L.

AU - McGregor, Kevin A.

AU - Fitzpatrick, Colleen M.

AU - Lyon, Chriss

AU - Yang, Dongya Y.

AU - Speller, Camilla F.

AU - Grimm, Michael R.

AU - Grimm, Michael J.

AU - Irwin, Jodi A.

AU - Robinson, Edward M.

PY - 2010/5

Y1 - 2010/5

N2 - This report describes the identification of a merchant mariner who perished in 1948 when Northwest Airlines Flight 4422, a DC-4 carrying 24 seamen and six crew members crashed into Mount Sanford, Alaska. Fifty-one years later, a human forearm and hand were found close by the wreckage of the plane, prompting identification efforts using DNA and fingerprints. There were significant challenges to both the fingerprint and DNA analyses. The hand was badly desiccated, making fingerprint friction-ridge detail almost invisible and the remains had been embalmed upon discovery, making DNA amplification difficult. We present the results of an interdisciplinary approach that successfully addressed these challenges and ultimately led to the identification of the remains. These efforts relied on efficient fingerprint rejuvenation and imaging techniques that improved print resolution, as well as new DNA extraction techniques optimized for aggressively embalmed remains.

AB - This report describes the identification of a merchant mariner who perished in 1948 when Northwest Airlines Flight 4422, a DC-4 carrying 24 seamen and six crew members crashed into Mount Sanford, Alaska. Fifty-one years later, a human forearm and hand were found close by the wreckage of the plane, prompting identification efforts using DNA and fingerprints. There were significant challenges to both the fingerprint and DNA analyses. The hand was badly desiccated, making fingerprint friction-ridge detail almost invisible and the remains had been embalmed upon discovery, making DNA amplification difficult. We present the results of an interdisciplinary approach that successfully addressed these challenges and ultimately led to the identification of the remains. These efforts relied on efficient fingerprint rejuvenation and imaging techniques that improved print resolution, as well as new DNA extraction techniques optimized for aggressively embalmed remains.

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Integrated DNA and Fingerprint Analyses in the Identification of 60-Year-Old Mummified Human Remains Discovered in an Alaskan Glacier

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