| Missing and Unidentified Persons System |
History of:
DNA and MUPS DNA data bank (Missing and Unidentified Persons System)
California has maintained a statewide-centralized repository of information about missing persons at the California Attorney General's Department of Justice since the 1950's.
In the early 1970’s with the nation’s first statewide Missing and Undentified Persons Clearinghouse was created by legislation sponsored by the California Coroner’s Association and child advocate John Brodie who now volunteers as the Public Affairs Coordinator for the Amber Foundation for Missing Children.
In the late 1970's with the assistance of Dr. Skip Sperber (forensic odontologist of San Diego, California) a dental identification component was added to the Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse.
In the early 1980's the Director of the California District Attorney's Association and child advocate John Brodie met and drafted legislation that established the nation's first clearinghouse of genetic marker information on convicted sex offenders. The late 1980's and early 1990's found DNA being tested as useful evidence at trial and eventually met standards established by the courts. California's Sex Offender genetic marker clearinghouse was gradually replaced with a Violent Felon DNA clearinghouse and has been the model for numerous convicted felon databases worldwide.
The year 2000 saw the introduction of Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by The Amber Foundation for Missing Children and The California State Coroners Association. This bill was authored by the State Senator Jackie Speier and principle co-authored by Assembly Member Dick Dickerson. Governor Gray Davis signed it into law on Thursday, September 28, 2000. Codified as Title 12.5, Section 14250 & 14251 in the California Penal Code on January 1, 2001 making California the first state in the nation to formalize a statewide process to use DNA to solve crimes involving missing persons, identify previously unidentified deceased persons.
Use of the process outlined in this new law will help bring truth and closure to the families of the missing and provide law enforcement with potential new leads. It is estimated that there are at least 3000 high-risk missing persons (of which 150 are believed to be children) and over 2000 deceased persons who remain unidentified here in California.
Program Description
The Missing and Unidentified Persons (MUPS) DNA data bank stores DNA profiles in two different files. One file is made up of either DNA profiles from relatives of reported missing persons or a DNA profile established from a sample from the missing person (reference file). The second file is made up of DNA profiles developed from samples from unidentified persons. An identification will be make if the DNA profile of the sample from the unidentified person "matches" a DNA profile in the reference file.
What is DNA_
DNA is the material found in the nucleus of the human cell and in specialized structures outside the nucleus called mitochondria. DNA is termed the "Blueprint of Life" because it makes up the genetic code that determines our hereditary makeup. It consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix.
What is Mitochondrial DNA_
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is DNA found outside the nucleus, within structures called mitochondria. There are many more of these structures in the cell than the one nucleus. This could explain why mtDNA apparently withstands severe environments better than nuclear DNA. Also important to the MUPS DNA data bank, mitochondria are inherited only from one's mother (see below). For this reason, very useful "matching" information may be obtained if only maternal relatives of the missing person could be obtained (i.e. aunt or grandmother).
Types of Samples
For the reference file, buccal or mouth swabs will provide sufficient DNA to develop a profile. For samples from the missing subject, teeth and hairs may be appropriate for DNA profiling. For samples from unidentified subjects, blood, tissue and bones may be submitted for testing.
Privacy
The samples collected for this program will only be analyzed for genetic markers useful for identification purposes. The MUPS DNA data bank is separate from the Department of Justice's Convicted Felon DNA data bank, meaning profiles from the two data banks will not be routinely cross searched. Additionally, the law specifically provides for punishment of any person who violates the privacy provisions of the law that crested the MUPS DNA data bank program.
Scenarios
The following examples demonstrate the usefulness of this program.
A young child is kidnapped and the parents provide samples to the MUPS program. Years later, the kidnapped victim, now an adult, submits a sample for testing in hopes of determining his/her true identity.
A young child is kidnapped and the parents provide samples to the MUPS program. Years later, a body of a young child is found. No identification was made through dental records. Sample DNA information is collected from the deceased child. These samples are provided to the MUPS program. A hit is made and the parents are informed that their child was murdered.
A coroner's office is called to assist in the collection of human remains found in the desert. Attempts at identifying the human remains through dental records do not lead to identification and samples are sent to the MUPS program. Criminalists attempt STR analysis, but because the samples are extremely weathered. Mitochondria Typing are performed. The profile then matches a maternal relative in the data bank.
DNA and MUPS DNA data bank (Missing and Unidentified Persons System)
California has maintained a statewide-centralized repository of information about missing persons at the California Attorney General's Department of Justice since the 1950's.
In the early 1970’s with the nation’s first statewide Missing and Undentified Persons Clearinghouse was created by legislation sponsored by the California Coroner’s Association and child advocate John Brodie who now volunteers as the Public Affairs Coordinator for the Amber Foundation for Missing Children.
In the late 1970's with the assistance of Dr. Skip Sperber (forensic odontologist of San Diego, California) a dental identification component was added to the Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse.
In the early 1980's the Director of the California District Attorney's Association and child advocate John Brodie met and drafted legislation that established the nation's first clearinghouse of genetic marker information on convicted sex offenders. The late 1980's and early 1990's found DNA being tested as useful evidence at trial and eventually met standards established by the courts. California's Sex Offender genetic marker clearinghouse was gradually replaced with a Violent Felon DNA clearinghouse and has been the model for numerous convicted felon databases worldwide.
The year 2000 saw the introduction of Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by The Amber Foundation for Missing Children and The California State Coroners Association. This bill was authored by the State Senator Jackie Speier and principle co-authored by Assembly Member Dick Dickerson. Governor Gray Davis signed it into law on Thursday, September 28, 2000. Codified as Title 12.5, Section 14250 & 14251 in the California Penal Code on January 1, 2001 making California the first state in the nation to formalize a statewide process to use DNA to solve crimes involving missing persons, identify previously unidentified deceased persons.
Use of the process outlined in this new law will help bring truth and closure to the families of the missing and provide law enforcement with potential new leads. It is estimated that there are at least 3000 high-risk missing persons (of which 150 are believed to be children) and over 2000 deceased persons who remain unidentified here in California.
Program Description
The Missing and Unidentified Persons (MUPS) DNA data bank stores DNA profiles in two different files. One file is made up of either DNA profiles from relatives of reported missing persons or a DNA profile established from a sample from the missing person (reference file). The second file is made up of DNA profiles developed from samples from unidentified persons. An identification will be make if the DNA profile of the sample from the unidentified person "matches" a DNA profile in the reference file.
What is DNA_
DNA is the material found in the nucleus of the human cell and in specialized structures outside the nucleus called mitochondria. DNA is termed the "Blueprint of Life" because it makes up the genetic code that determines our hereditary makeup. It consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix.
What is Mitochondrial DNA_
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is DNA found outside the nucleus, within structures called mitochondria. There are many more of these structures in the cell than the one nucleus. This could explain why mtDNA apparently withstands severe environments better than nuclear DNA. Also important to the MUPS DNA data bank, mitochondria are inherited only from one's mother (see below). For this reason, very useful "matching" information may be obtained if only maternal relatives of the missing person could be obtained (i.e. aunt or grandmother).
Types of Samples
For the reference file, buccal or mouth swabs will provide sufficient DNA to develop a profile. For samples from the missing subject, teeth and hairs may be appropriate for DNA profiling. For samples from unidentified subjects, blood, tissue and bones may be submitted for testing.
Privacy
The samples collected for this program will only be analyzed for genetic markers useful for identification purposes. The MUPS DNA data bank is separate from the Department of Justice's Convicted Felon DNA data bank, meaning profiles from the two data banks will not be routinely cross searched. Additionally, the law specifically provides for punishment of any person who violates the privacy provisions of the law that crested the MUPS DNA data bank program.
Scenarios
The following examples demonstrate the usefulness of this program.
A young child is kidnapped and the parents provide samples to the MUPS program. Years later, the kidnapped victim, now an adult, submits a sample for testing in hopes of determining his/her true identity.
A young child is kidnapped and the parents provide samples to the MUPS program. Years later, a body of a young child is found. No identification was made through dental records. Sample DNA information is collected from the deceased child. These samples are provided to the MUPS program. A hit is made and the parents are informed that their child was murdered.
A coroner's office is called to assist in the collection of human remains found in the desert. Attempts at identifying the human remains through dental records do not lead to identification and samples are sent to the MUPS program. Criminalists attempt STR analysis, but because the samples are extremely weathered. Mitochondria Typing are performed. The profile then matches a maternal relative in the data bank.