Summary
The podcast episode titled "Identifying Fallen Soldiers & Human Remains" features a discussion between host Neil deGrasse Tyson, co-host Chuck Nice, and two guests from the Department of Defense DNA Operations. The episode explores the use of forensic science to identify missing soldiers, with a focus on DNA testing. The Defense Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) is responsible for the recovery and identification of missing service members, and they partner with the Department of Defense DNA Operations to provide DNA identification. The DPAA has been proactively collecting family references since 1992 and has a database for 92% of the original 8100 missing from the end of the Korean War.
Dr. Tim McMahon, a biomedical scientist and director of the Department of Defense DNA Operations, explains the process of obtaining DNA from bones, which involves grinding them up and using a specialized filter to purify the DNA. McMahon emphasizes that DNA is just one means of identification and that information from anthropology, dental records, and historical evidence is also crucial in building the full picture of a missing service member's identity.
The podcast also features Dr. Franklin Damon, the Deputy Director of the DPAA, who explains that both commercial and government research is being used to identify remains. The DPAA uses both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA to identify remains, with mitochondrial DNA only being inherited from the mother. The conversation also briefly mentions the USS Oklahoma and the efforts to identify the remains of sailors who were previously entombed in the ship.
Dr. Damon explains that the minimum requirement for DNA analysis is at least two grams of hard compact cortical bone. The lab procedures involve a collaborative effort from anthropologists, dentists, data scientists, forensic chemists, and medical examiners. The identification process involves matching postmortem information with missing persons records. The DPAA is also exploring 3D technology and stable isotopes as tracers to differentiate between remains of U.S. origin and others.
Overall, the podcast highlights the challenges of identifying fallen heroes who were previously unknown and the importance of using a collaborative approach to the identification process. The DPAA's mission is not only to identify missing service members but also to provide closure to families and to establish cooperative relationships with different nations.
