Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis is preferred over nuclear STR profiling for forensic identification in which of the following scenarios?

• A Fresh blood stain on a wall from a crime scene
• B Semen stain on clothing where the suspect is a known donor
• C Buccal swab from a living suspect for paternity determination
• D Severely degraded skeletal remains from a mass disaster with no living first-degree relatives ✓

Explanation

MtDNA is maternally inherited, present in hundreds to thousands of copies per cell, and survives well in degraded samples such as old bone and hair without nuclei. It is particularly useful when nuclear DNA is too degraded to amplify and when maternal-line relatives (living or deceased) are used as references. For fresh stains, semen, or paternity testing, nuclear STR analysis is superior due to its greater discriminating power.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.