Mitochondrial DNA Explained #truecrimeshorts #truecrimeinvestigation #crimejunkies #podcast

Number three, mitochondrial DNA or MT Number three, mitochondrial DNA or MT DNA analysis. How do you catch a killer DNA analysis. How do you catch a killer DNA analysis. How do you catch a killer when the only evidence left behind is a when the only evidence left behind is a when the only evidence left behind is a single strand of hair without a root? single strand of hair without a root? single strand of hair without a root? That's where mitochondrial DNA or MT DNA That's where mitochondrial DNA or MT DNA That's where mitochondrial DNA or MT DNA analysis comes in. This type of DNA is analysis comes in. This type of DNA is analysis comes in. This type of DNA is pulled, as the name suggests, from pulled, as the name suggests, from pulled, as the name suggests, from mitochondria and it's always passed down mitochondria and it's always passed down mitochondria and it's always passed down from mother to child. Many people share from mother to child. Many people share from mother to child. Many people share the same MT DNA, so it cannot be used to the same MT DNA, so it cannot be used to the same MT DNA, so it cannot be used to identify unique individuals, but it can identify unique individuals, but it can identify unique individuals, but it can link someone to a maternal line. And link someone to a maternal line. And link someone to a maternal line. And because it works even when DNA is too because it works even when DNA is too because it works even when DNA is too degraded for other tests, it can give degraded for other tests, it can give degraded for other tests, it can give investigators a critical lead when other investigators a critical lead when other investigators a critical lead when other methods can't. That's exactly what methods can't. That's exactly what methods can't. That's exactly what happened in the search for the Gilgo happened in the search for the Gilgo happened in the search for the Gilgo Beach killer. Investigators found Beach killer. Investigators found Beach killer. Investigators found degraded rootless hairs on the burlap degraded rootless hairs on the burlap degraded rootless hairs on the burlap sacks used to wrap some of the victims sacks used to wrap some of the victims sacks used to wrap some of the victims up in this case. up in this case. up in this case. And by 2023, a lab was able to And by 2023, a lab was able to And by 2023, a lab was able to successfully pull an MT DNA sequence successfully pull an MT DNA sequence successfully pull an MT DNA sequence from the hairs. from the hairs. from the hairs. Now, there are several ways to do this, Now, there are several ways to do this, Now, there are several ways to do this, and we don't know exactly what method and we don't know exactly what method and we don't know exactly what method they used because they've not made that they used because they've not made that they used because they've not made that public yet, probably because this case public yet, probably because this case public yet, probably because this case is still going to trial, maybe. But they is still going to trial, maybe. But they is still going to trial, maybe. But they extracted DNA from those hairs and used extracted DNA from those hairs and used extracted DNA from those hairs and used whole genome sequencing to develop a whole genome sequencing to develop a whole genome sequencing to develop a profile. Then they used that sequence to profile. Then they used that sequence to profile. Then they used that sequence to narrow down a pool of possible families, narrow down a pool of possible families, narrow down a pool of possible families, including the family of Long Island man including the family of Long Island man including the family of Long Island man Rex Heuermann. This MT DNA sequence was Rex Heuermann. This MT DNA sequence was Rex Heuermann. This MT DNA sequence was then compared against a reference sample then compared against a reference sample then compared against a reference sample that had been obtained from a pizza that had been obtained from a pizza that had been obtained from a pizza crust that officials say Rex Heuermann crust that officials say Rex Heuermann crust that officials say Rex Heuermann had thrown away, which is another had thrown away, which is another had thrown away, which is another example of voluntarily abandoned DNA.

example of voluntarily abandoned DNA. example of voluntarily abandoned DNA. That allowed them to get a warrant, That allowed them to get a warrant, That allowed them to get a warrant, collect a buccal swab, and then collect a buccal swab, and then collect a buccal swab, and then establish a direct match. establish a direct match. establish a direct match. Heuermann was charged with murder in the Heuermann was charged with murder in the Heuermann was charged with murder in the deaths of at least seven women spanning deaths of at least seven women spanning deaths of at least seven women spanning three decades. One thing I do want to three decades. One thing I do want to three decades. One thing I do want to note about MT DNA evidence is that it is note about MT DNA evidence is that it is note about MT DNA evidence is that it is rarely the only evidence used to rarely the only evidence used to rarely the only evidence used to prosecute someone. It doesn't prove prosecute someone. It doesn't prove prosecute someone. It doesn't prove identity by itself, remember, but it can identity by itself, remember, but it can identity by itself, remember, but it can be the crucial piece that backs up other be the crucial piece that backs up other be the crucial piece that backs up other evidence and helps prosecutors close in evidence and helps prosecutors close in evidence and helps prosecutors close in on a suspect.