Use of DNA in humanitarian investigations
Amendments to the DNA Identification Act came into force in March 2018 and expanded the national use of DNA analysis through the establishment of the National Missing Persons DNA Program. Working with the RCMP's National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains, police, coroners and medical examiners across Canada submit biological samples and DNA profiles for missing persons and human remains investigations to the National DNA Data Bank (NDDB) for analysis.
The NDDB compares a DNA profile developed from human remains to DNA profiles from convicted offenders, crime scenes, victims, voluntary donors, missing persons and relatives of missing persons to assist in the identification of the donor of the remains. Through this national program, human remains discovered in one province can be linked to a missing person or family members from another province.
DNA indices used in humanitarian investigations
- Missing Persons Index
- Contains DNA profiles from personal items belonging to the missing persons
- These profiles can be compared to DNA profiles in the Convicted Offenders Index, the Crime Scene Index, the Victims Index, the Voluntary Donors Index, the Relatives of Missing Persons Index and the Human Remains Index
- Relatives of Missing Persons Index
- Contains DNA profiles from relatives of missing persons provided voluntarily
- These profiles can only be compared to DNA profiles in the Missing Persons Index and the Human Remains Index
- Human Remains Index
- Contains DNA profiles from unidentified human remains
- These profiles can be compared to DNA profiles in the Convicted Offenders Index, the Crime Scene Index, the Victims Index, the Voluntary Donors Index, the Missing Persons Index and the Relatives of Missing Persons Index
- Voluntary Donor Index
- Contains DNA profiles from voluntary donors associated with a humanitarian investigation or the investigation of a designated criminal offense
- These profiles can be compared to DNA profiles in the Convicted Offenders Index, the Crime Scene Index, the Victims Index, the Missing Persons Index and the Human Remains Index
Technologies implemented
The NDDB has introduced new and advanced technologies to provide the following services:
- hard tissue (bone and teeth) processing
- Y-STR (Y-chromosome) testing
- mitochondrial DNA testing (using next generation sequencing)
Submission information
Please visit the National Missing Persons DNA Program for submission information and the Family's Guide to the National Missing Persons DNA Program.
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