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For the Return of America's Missing Servicemen
+World War II+Korea War+Cold War+Vietnam+
REPORT OF THE
DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD
TASK FORCE
ON
THE USE OF DNA TECHNOLOGY FOR
IDENTIFICATION OF ANCIENT REMAINS
JULY 1995
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
FOR ACQUISITION & TECHNOLOGY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-3140
This report is a product of the Defense Science Board (DSB). The DSB is a Federal Advisory Committee established to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Defense. Statements, opinions, conclusions and recommendations in this report do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of Defense.
This document is UNCLASSIFIED.
Security review completed 13 February 1995 by OASD (Public Affairs) directorate for Freedom of Information and Security Review Case number 95-J- 0529
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-3140
DEFENSE SCIENCE
BOARD
16 Jul 1995
MEMORANDUM FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
(ACQUISITION & TECHNOLOGY)
SUBJECT: Report of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on the Use of DNA Technology for Identification of Ancient Remains
I am pleased to forward the final report of the DSB study on the Use of DNA Technology for Identification of Ancient Remains. The report focuses on a new and exciting area of life science technology that can have a dramatic impact on the Department's ability to resolve current and future issues concerning the fullest possible accounting of prisoners of war and missing in action (POW/MIAs).
The report's recommendations could see to support broad policy adjustments for the Department of Defense on issues concerning identification of ancient war remains. I concur with the observations and recommendations of the Task Force, and recommend that you forward the report to the Secretary of Defense.
/s/
Craig I. Fields
Chairman
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-3140
DEFENSE SCIENCE
BOARD
MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN, DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD
SUBJECT: Report of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on the Use of DNA Technology for Identification of Ancient Remains
Attached is the report of the DSB study on the use of DNA Technology for Identification of Ancient Remains. This DSB Task Force was formed to study the issues and provide findings concerning the use of DNA comparison techniques for ancient remains identification. The primary purpose was to determine the feasibility of utilizing DNA techniques to identify unassociated ancient remains from past conflicts.
The Task Force heard presentations from a wide range of scientific and medical experts from within and outside the Department of Defense. We also reviewed written information from published and unpublished sources that was pertinent to our terms of reference.
The DSB Task Force has found that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing currently offers the best means of identifying those skeletal remains that cannot be identified through traditional means. The Task Force finds that current DNA identification efforts are supported by sufficient scientific evidence to proceed, in particular with application of mtDNA sequencing to ancient remains from the Korean conflict.
The Task Force also finds that operations at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) are conducted appropriately such that families can rely on the results generated.
/s/
Joshua Lederberg
Task Force Chairman
Report
of the
DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD TASK FORCE
ON
THE USE OF DNA TECHNOLOGY
FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ANCIENT REMAINS
January 20, 1995
Joshua Lederberg
Rockefeller University
Task Force Chairman
Jan Bashinski
California Department of Justice
Bruce Budowle
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Peter Gill
British Forensic Science Service
Mark Stoneking
Pennsylvania State University
Douglas Wallace
Emory University
Bruce Weir
North Carolina State University
George Whitesides
Harvard University
CDR Mark Jensen, USN
USA Executive Secretary
LTC John Dertzbaugh,
DSB Secretariat Representative
CONTENTS
Summary
A. Forensic DNA Identification 5
B. MTDNA Sequence Identifications 6
G. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 11
H. Military Skeletal Remains Identification 12
I. NonDNA Identification Evidence 13
II. Factors 15
B. Family Reference Specimens 16
C. Discriminatory Potential 17
D. Mutations 18
H. PCR Amplification Ambiguities 24
V. Family Reference Database 34
VII. Large-Scale Operations 39
VIII. Resource Requirements 42
A. Specimen Preparation & DNA Extraction 46
Conclusion 55
Annexes
Annex A - Defense Science Board Terms of Reference
Annex B - Defense Science Board Task Force Members
Annex C - Mitochondrial DNA Standards
Annex D - "X-6" Case Synopsis and Report Of Findings
Annex E - Memorandum Lifting DoD Moratorium
Annex F - Mutations
Annex G - Outreach Program Annex
Annex H - Resource Requirements For Korea - Phase I
Annex I - Resource Requirements For Korea - Phase II
Figures
Figure 1 - Human Mitochondrial Genome Figure
2 - Human Mitochondrial Genome Regions
Figure 3 - Human Mitochondrial Control Regions
Figure 4 - Sequence of the Control Region Hypervariable Segments
Figure 5 - Polymorphism Distribution of the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region
Figure 6 - Constraints on Polymorphism of the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region
Figure 7 - AFDIL Mitochondrial DNA Amplification and Sequencing Scheme
Figure 8 - Division of Labor for Current AFDIL Casework
Figure 9 - Projected Time-Line for Korean Remains Identification
Bibliography
REPORT SUMMARY
The Defense Science Board (DSB) was requested by the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) to address key issues arising from efforts to identify skeletal remains using new DNA testing technologies (Annex A and B). The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), a Department of Defense organization, is currently performing this testing under a Memorandum of Agreement for the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) of the U.S. Army Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC) with funds from the U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (DCSPER).
A priority of the United States government has been the recovery and identification of the remains of American servicemembers from Southeast Asia, the Cold War era, and Korea. Currently, there are over 2,200 servicemembers from Southeast Asia, 132 servicemembers from the Cold War period, and over 8,100 servicemembers from the Korean conflict, whose remains have not been recovered and/or identified.
Current remains testing by the AFDIL involves mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, a new technology used only by a few laboratories in the world for forensic identification purposes. The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) [ASD (HA)] with input from civilian organizations developed a Quality Assurance Program for mtDNA testing of ancient remains. An important component of this program is the formation of an oversight committee composed of civilian technical consultants.
MtDNA testing is currently performed on repatriated remains with a name association, primarily from Southeast Asia. It is estimated that 500 cases from Southeast Asia will require mtDNA testing over approximately 5 years.
It is estimated that 3,000 remains could be repatriated from North Korea. This is in addition to the 200 remains repatriated by North Korea already at CILHI and the 865 unidentified American remains from Korea interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. The vast majority would require
mtDNA testing due to lack of adequate dental and medical records. These remains would not generally have name associations. Accordingly, a database of family reference mtDNA sequences would be constructed and mtDNA sequences of these remains would be compared to it.
The DSB Task Force finds that mtDNA sequencing currently offers the best means of identifying those skeletal remains that cannot be identified through traditional means. The Task Force finds that operations at the AFDIL are conducted appropriately, such that identification of military remains using mtDNA technology, is defendable and that families can rely on the results generated in these cases. The Task Force finds that mtDNA sequencing in conjunction with other nonDNA evidence could provide identifications on the unassociated Korean remains. The cost of this program over the next 12 years would be approximately $2 million annually over existing funding levels.
Principal Conclusions:
The Task Force finds that current DNA identification efforts are supported by sufficient scientific evidence to proceed, in particular with application of mtDNA sequencing to identify ancient remains from the Korean conflict.
The Task Force supports the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) in the creation of a scientific advisory board composed of civilian technical consultants.