New-Generation DNA Technology Offers New Opportunities for Identifying Martyr Remains
NGS-SNP technology has increased the success rate in identifying decomposed martyr remains, enabling the discovery of the families of two soldiers in tests conducted in Cao Bang.
The combination of next-generation sequencing and SNP marker analysis has marked a significant milestone in identifying severely degraded martyr remains that lack relative data. While the success rate in Cao Bang tests increased, the remains of two martyr soldiers were successfully matched with their families.
Innovations Brought by the Technology
The combination of next-generation sequencing technology and SNP marker analysis is opening up new avenues for identifying martyr remains in severely degraded samples that lack family data for comparison. Scientists now target genetic variations in the nuclear genome instead of mitochondrial DNA.
Challenges Faced in the Past
Decades after the war, the DNA in the remains of fallen soldiers has become significantly degraded and fragmented. Mitochondrial DNA markers used in the past encountered major limitations in severely degraded samples and in situations where close relatives were absent.
Ministry Studies and Success Rates
Out of thousands of samples arriving at the DNA Testing Center, mitochondrial DNA data could be obtained from very few. Identifying the NGS-SNP process as a major innovation to solve this problem, the Ministry of Science and Technology increased the DNA extraction success rate from 22 percent to 80 percent.
Cao Bang and Tra Linh Tests
In studies conducted at the Tra Linh Martyrs Cemetery, DNA data suitable for comparison was obtained from 54 out of 58 samples. As a result of comparing this data with relatives, the remains belonging to two families were successfully identified.