Citation
Levinson, D.J. (2001), "Israel police DNA seminar", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 10 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2001.07310bab.011
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Israel police DNA seminar
Israel police DNA seminar
Jerusalem, 21 November 2000
In the context of a general seminar on DNA for identification purposes, Mrs Maya Freund, Head of the Biology Section at the National Center for Forensic Medicine, discussed the use of DNA after disasters. Mrs Freund explained that conventional methods of disaster victim identification are to be preferred, since DNA is both costly and time consuming. The first time the National Center used DNA in a disaster was in 1995, when body fluids were removed from the pilot's seatbelt following a plane crash. It was considered significant that DNA was usable, even though the plane had fallen in the sea; salt water did not preclude examination. In suicide bombing cases DNA has been used to determine the number of terrorists involved, and to associate victim body parts for subsequent burial. To show the complexity of a DNA identificaiton, Mrs Freund explained that in one disaster it was necessary to take DNA samples from members of 20 families to identify one body.
Dr Jay Levinson
Jerusalem 91230