الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This project was designed and developed in response to the need to improve the methodology employed in the DNA extraction of the Kuwaiti victims of the First Gulf War (1990-1991). The main challenges have involved developing the methodology in an attempt to increase the DNA recovery from the skeletal remains and also assess the preservation of DNA.
In order to assess the methodology for DNA extraction and prediction of DNA preservation, 25 samples from femur and humerus of individuals who were killed during the Gulf War, which had not been analysed, were taken for analysis. These were exhumed from five gravesites, three in Iraq and two in Kuwait. All previous attempts to generate DNA profiles from the samples had failed. Therefore, some samples have been sent to three international laboratories; FSS (forensic Science Service), Bode Technology group (an international private DNA analysis laboratories) and ICMP (International Community OF Missing People). Unfortunately, results from those laboratories showed failed and partial profiles.
In the present study, DNA from bone samples were again extracted using five different extraction methods. PCR amplification of the extracts and the real-time quantification results showed that the modification of a silica-based method, using the Qiagen DNeasy® kit, was successful in removing inhibitors that were present in the extracts while other extraction methods failed.
The power of different methods to allow an effective system of triage (sorting of samples based on the likelihood of successful analysis) was examined. Two parameters were assessed: gross morphology and histology with the amount and quality of DNA that was recovered from different samples. Samples examined have displayed varying degrees of change. The samples from Iraqi site
generally displayed good morphological and histological preservation. In contrast, the samples from the two sites within Kuwait displayed an almost complete lack of histological features and changes (pitting/cracks) to the surface. The morphological and histological preservation correlated closely with the success rate when extracting DNA from casework samples that were buried in Iraq and Kuwait.