Anyone who knows me knows that I am absolutely obsessed with forensics, which is why I decided 10 years ago that I was going to make it my life. I decided that I was going to study forensics in college (even though I hadn't even made it to high school yet), and that I was going to make a career out of it. I typically focus on things dealing with DNA or trace analysis, but I found an interesting article connected with a different branch of forensics: forensic odontology. Forensic odontology, or forensic dentistry, is branch of forensic medicine in which teeth are used in the identification of victims when their bodies are unrecognizable.
Genetic material is obtained in different ways when comparing living suspects to deceased victims. When dealing with living suspects, genetic material is typically obtained through blood or a cheek swab. On the other hand, in order to help determine the identity of a deceased person, the method of obtaining genetic material is a bit more complicated. When it comes to verifying a familial relation involving post-mortem material, time from death and corpse condition play a significant role in the method used. In more recent deaths, soft tissue is a viable option, whereas in situations of longer periods of time, the soft tissue is no longer a suitable option and sources such as bone and teeth are used.
Teeth are a great source of genetic material as natural teeth are the most durable organs in the bodies of vertebrates and they have significant tissue resistance against external injuries. The dental pulp presents a better condition for DNA extraction than other soft tissues as it is protected by the tooth structure. The genetic material extracted from the victim is then compared to either the genetic material obtained from a presumed family member or from a known DNA profile of the victim.
Sources:
http://medind.nic.in/jal/t12/i1/jalt12i1p55.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612186/
This is a really interesting article and part of me always wondered how these things worked because there are some situations that investigators come across where the only remnants they are left to work with are the teeth. I didn't realize that DNA could be extracted from teeth so it's nice to know that this is possible and an option for identifying people.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing a brief part of your story about choosing to go into forensics! Forensics sounds like a really neat field since it combines detective work with scientific lab testing and analysis. I knew they somehow used teeth in forensic analysis when only bones remain, but I always imagined them reconstructing their smile and comparing it to photos or dental X-rays. However, it makes total sense that the pulp contained within the tooth would have DNA and can be used for analysis. It's amazing how much progress has been made in forensic investigation and being able to determine guilt or innocence based on DNA testing (thanks in large part to molecular biology techniques and tools).
ReplyDeleteI actually found this intriguing because I used to be interested in Forensics, but then later on I changed my major. I didn't know that the teeth are the most durable organ of the body. I would think all bones are just as durable. I especially didn't know that you could get genetic material from the teeth! I am going to look deeper into how the genetic material is acquired. I learned a lot from this blog, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. I am also going the same route. I hope to work in a lab and do either blood splatter analysis or something else to do with the biology side of things. I think it is so cool that something as simple as teeth can tell a person apart. Its just like finger prints. The human body never ceases to amaze me.
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ReplyDeleteHow well does DNA in tooth pulp survive fire? Asking for a friend.
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