Overview of Forensic Services by the UP-NSRI DNA Laboratory: a 4-year Report

Abstract

This paper reports the use of DNA analysis in 342 cases that were handled by the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman during the period from January 2005 to August 2008. Different DNA markers namely Short Tandem Repeats on autosomal and Y-chromosome as well as mitochondrial DNA sequences were used depending on the type and availability of samples that were submitted. The utility of the technology for human identification for diverse purposes was shown. The work presented here puts forward the importance of developing DNA laboratories to make this type of service available in the Philippines.