A Proposal for Faster Victim Identification via Remote DNA Testing

Idil Ali and Emily SaleDecember 14, 2012

Meulaboh City Indonesia after the

2004 tsunami

A memorial to those who died in Thailand from the

2004 Tsunami

Sources: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/why-the-indonesian-earthquake-didnt-generate-a-tsunami.htmhttp://www.thai-blogs.com/2005/04/04/100-days-tsunami-ceremony/

Genocide

Sources: http://tundratabloids.com/2011/11/turkish-goon-pm-erdogan-apologizes-for-14-000-turkish-government-inflicted-murders.htmlShttp://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2009/July/Pages/WantedOneAffordableField-ReadyDNATestingDevice.aspx

Refugee Camps

Why the U.N.?• The U.N. regularly responds in states with peacekeeping and

peace-building missions

• Budget of $5,152 billion (U.S. dollars)

• 12.2% of which relates to international justice/law, human rights, and safety and security

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/WhoWeAre.aspxhttp://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/about_us.html

U.N. Programmes• UNDP• On the ground in over 177 countries• Focuses on crisis prevention, democratic governance, and

encouraging the protection of human rights

• UN/OHCHR• Mandate by the international community to protect human rights

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/WhoWeAre.aspxhttp://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/about_us.html

The Database

• Based on the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation’s strategy•Microsoft Access – uses mitochondrial

DNA as data entry • Data comparison using various strategies• Ranking puts Perfect Match at the top of

the list

Monson et al. "The MtDNA Population Database: An Integrated Software and Database Resource for Forensic Comparison by Monson, Miller, Wilson, DiZinno, and Budowle (Forensic Science Communications, April 2002)." FBI. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. Alonso, Antonio, et al. "Challenges of DNA profiling in mass disaster investigations." Croatian Medical Journal 46.4 (2005): 540.

The Technology

Sources: http://www.zygem.com/System/Microlab.html

• Quick Results -- Human Identification 16 loci detection in approximately 45 minutes

• Low cost system

• User-friendly – System can be operated by all skill levels

• Portable – Can be used in the field or in the lab

• Capacity – Can test multiple samples at once

Technological Adaptations

Existing Technology

Keyboard

Rechargeable Battery

Small Screen

Wi-Fi Connection

Process Overview

1. Identify at-risk countries2. Hold a mass collection event• Identification given, recorded, consent form signed• Sample results sent to U.N. laboratory

If samples are needed for identification later:• Sample recorded and processed at U.N. lab• Identification Results given in 45 minutes

Sustainability

Financial Man Power Legality

"United Nations Department of Management." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.

"United Nations Department of Management." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.

"United Nations Department of Management." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.

Sustainability

Financial Man Power Legality

"United Nations Department of Management." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.

Future Use: Syria• Byproduct of Arab Spring and dictator rule

• Civil War• Fighting moving towards the capital, Damascus

• Government is responsible for one of the largest chemical weapon stockpiles• Fear that Sarin will be used on people if government becomes too

desperate • Mass Sarin use = human rights offense = possible genocide

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/07/world/meast/syria-chemical-weapons-qa/index.html

Thank youHave a great break!