As India mourns the tragic loss of lives in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, science is quietly helping bring some closure to grieving families. In a special interview with NDTV, Dr Rakesh Mishra — a leading molecular biologist, former Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, and now Director of the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society in Bengaluru — explained how DNA fingerprinting can help identify victims, even when their bodies are badly burned.
Dr Mishra explained that DNA fingerprinting is a reliable method that uses a person’s unique genetic code to confirm their identity. “From any biological material—be it tissue, blood, saliva, or even a hair follicle—we can extract DNA,” he said. “Even a very small amount is sufficient.”
The process involves isolating DNA and examining parts of the genome known as short tandem repeats (STRs). These regions vary greatly between individuals, which makes every DNA profile unique. “We can determine whether two samples come from the same individual or different individuals, and even establish familial relationships,” Dr Mishra added.
One of the biggest concerns after the crash is whether DNA can still be extracted from bodies that are severely charred. Dr Mishra answered this with confidence: “Yes, it’s possible. DNA is present in almost every cell of the body, and even if the tissue is charred, we can often retrieve it from bones or small fragments.”
He also shared that scientists have been able to extract DNA from ancient remains, including Neanderthals. “If we can do that, we can certainly identify victims from a recent crash,” he said.
