Updating data on the genetic identification of bone remains of victims of the Spanish Civil War

• Published in: Forensic science international. Genetics supplement series 2019-12, Vol.7 (1), p.582-584
• Main Authors: Baeta, Miriam, Nuñez, Carolina, Raffone, Caterina, Granizo, Eva, Palencia-Madrid, Leire, Cardoso, Sergio, Etxeberria, Francisco, Herrasti, Lourdes, de Pancorbo, Marian M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Degraded DNA; DNA identification; Mass grave
• ISSN: 1875-1768; 1875-175X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigss.2019.10.098

In this study, we present our experience in the genetic identification of skeletal remains recovered from graves of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and posterior dictatorship (until 1970s). Up to now, we have carried out the genetic analysis of more than 500 human remains from graves located in the Spanish territory, particularly from the northern half. Autosomal STRs, Y-STRs, X-STRs and/or mtDNA were studied in order to establish kinship relationship with presumptive relatives and reach a successful identification of the unknown remains. In the last years, our efforts have focused on overcoming the limitations of this kind of analysis: limited quality and quantity of DNA recovered from the remains, partial genetic profiles from these samples and scarce number of appropriate family members for genetic comparisons. With this aim, we have optimized the process from the DNA extraction to the matching search, including an increased number of relatives’ profiles in the genetic databases (n>800), in order to raise the number of identifications.