A murder mystery solved by mitochondrial Dna sequencing Chauhan Kamal1, Mohapatra BK2, Aggarwal Kangana3, Behera Chittaranjan4,* 1Senior Scientific Officer, Biology DivisionCentral Forensic Science Laboratory (CBI), CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India 2Principal Scientific Officer, Biology DivisionCentral Forensic Science Laboratory (CBI), CGO Complex, New Delhi, India 3Ph.D. student, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India 4Professor, DNA Laboratory Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India *Corresponding Author Dr. Chittaranjan Behera, Professor DNA Laboratory Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India, Email: drchitta75@rediffmail.com
Online published on 19 March, 2025. Abstract The present case study emphasises the important role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis in forensic investigations, particularly in situations where conventional nuclear DNA (nDNA) analysis is challenging due to sample degradation. In this case, heavily degraded skeletal remains yielded no usable nDNA profile, yet mt DNA analysis provided conclusive evidence, establishing a maternal link between the remains and the alleged mother. The study highlights the control region sequencing of mt DNA, which revealed an identical haplotype between the deceased’s bone sample and the alleged mother’s blood sample. The findings emphasize mtDNA’s complementary role in forensic casework, particularly in scenarios involving degraded, low-quantity samples, or cases requiring maternal lineage verification. The study advocates for the routine inclusion of mtDNA analysis in forensic protocols, contributing to the growing recognition of its significance in modern forensic science. Top Keywords Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Forensic identification, Degraded samples, Skeletal remains, Maternal lineage. Top |