ABSTRACT
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) typing is increasingly used in human identity testing when biological evidence may be degraded, when quantities of the samples in question are limited, or when nuclear DNA typing is not an option. Forensically relevant biological sources of mtDNA include, but are not limited to, hairs, bones, and teeth. In humans, mtDNA is inherited strictly from the mother. Consequently, mtDNA analysis cannot discriminate between maternally related individuals (e.g., mother and daughter, brother and sister). However, this unique characteristic of mtDNA is beneficial for missing person cases when mtDNA samples can be compared to samples provided by a maternal relative of the missing person.
