Identification of Human Remains Using mtDNA Sequence Analysis in Morocco

Abstract

Today, mtDNA typing is utilized primarily in cases in which the nuclear DNA is too degraded or cannot be recovered in sufficient quantities to be typed. Laboratory of Genetic of Royal Gendarmerie in Morocco is actively involved in using mtDNA for forensic identifications of human skeletal remains. Reproducible results were obtained for bones and teeth up to 52 years old. The bone and tooth samples were pulverized to fine powder, decalcified and DNA was extracted. 341-bp fragment from HVI (hypervariable region I) and 267-bp fragment from HVII (hypervariable region II) of the mtDNA control region were amplified. After sequencing of the PCR products, mitotypes were compared to the rCRS (revised Cambridge Reference Sequence) and a phylogenetic tree was built.