Analysis of radiocarbon, stable isotopes and DNA in teeth to facilitate identification of unknown decedents.

ABSTRACT: The characterization of unidentified bodies or suspected human remains is a frequent and important task for forensic investigators. However, any identification method requires clues to the person's identity to allow for comparisons with missing persons. If such clues are lacking, information about the year of birth, sex and geographic origin of the victim, is particularly helpful to aid in the identification casework and limit the search for possible matches. We present here results of stable isotope analysis of (13)C and (18)O, and bomb-pulse (14)C analyses that can help in the casework. The (14)C analysis of enamel provided information of the year of birth with an average absolute error of 1.8±1.3 years. We also found that analysis of enamel and root from the same tooth can be used to de

SUBMITTER: Alkass K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3726681 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature