Sequencing mitochondrial DNA from a tooth and application to forensic odontology.

Genetic identification can be complicated by long intervals between the time of death and examination of tissues, and sometimes only bone and teeth may be available for analysis. Several investigators have described the isolation of nuclear DNA from these materials, but all have indicated that the DNA is significantly degraded. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing have enabled rapid and reliable characterization of specific highly polymorphic DNA sequences from different individuals. Above all, mitochondrial DNA sequences offer several unique advantages for the identification of human remains. The isolation of mtDNA from a tooth and the symmetrical PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing of its most polymorphic regions are reported.