Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Aim: Disaster victim identification (DVI) is a multidisciplinary process that reconciles postmortem findings with antemortem information to establish identity following natural, technological, and human-caused mass-fatality incidents. Forensic genetics is indispensable when remains are fragmented, burned, decomposed, commingled, or otherwise unsuitable for fingerprint or dental comparison, but DNA should be deployed within an integrated identification strategy rather than as an isolated hierarchy of evidence. To synthesize two overlapping earlier manuscripts on DVI and forensic genetics and update their core concepts using contemporary international guidance and selected forensic-genetic literature. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was undertaken by consolidating the two source manuscripts, removing duplicate historical material, and conducting a targeted search of INTERPOL and International Committee of the Red Cross guidance and PubMed-indexed literature through August 2026. Priority was given to operational standards, foundational forensic-genetic studies, and recent reviews on degraded DNA, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, Rapid DNA, and ethical governance. Results: Effective DVI depends on governance, unique numbering, chain of custody, coordinated recovery, standardized antemortem and postmortem documentation, quality-assured laboratory practice, statistical evaluation, and independent reconciliation. Fingerprints, comparative dental data, and DNA are primary identifiers under current INTERPOL practice; medical or radiological findings may also provide high evidentiary value when sufficiently individualizing. Sample selection must be incident-specific. Fresh tissue or blood can be efficient, whereas teeth and dense cortical bone are often preferable after thermal damage or decomposition. Direct-reference samples are generally stronger than family references; kinship analysis must reflect autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosomal inheritance and report the weight of evidence. Emerging methods can improve recovery from highly degraded remains, but validation, accreditation, interpretation, privacy, and data-retention safeguards remain essential. Conclusions: Forensic genetics is most effective when embedded in a planned, multidisciplinary DVI system. Preparedness should focus on interoperable protocols, trained teams, validated sampling and laboratory workflows, secure information management, and transparent communication with families. Technological speed must not displace evidentiary quality or ethical accountability.
Authors: Mert, Murat, Eroglu, Yusuf
Institutions: University of Amsterdam, Istanbul University
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7219250909