Vietnam Enhances DNA Testing for Identifying Fallen Soldiers' Remains

Vietnam is taking a significant step towards resolving the long-standing issue of unidentified and undiscovered remains of fallen soldiers with the introduction of advanced DNA testing technology. Currently, approximately 175,000 sets of remains of fallen soldiers remain undiscovered, and the identities of around 300,000 others are yet to be determined. In response to this situation, Vietnam is advancing the "500-day, 500-night campaign to accelerate the search, collection, and identification of fallen soldiers' remains," with DNA testing identified as a key technology in this endeavor. To support this campaign, Vietnam's relevant center is simultaneously implementing two technological processes: mitochondrial genome DNA analysis and nuclear genome DNA analysis. This enables the acquisition of genetic information even from DNA samples that are extremely scarce or severely degraded. Compared to traditional鑑定 techniques, the new technology offers significantly enhanced sensitivity and accuracy, allowing for the extraction of more genetic information from bone and tooth samples that have deteriorated over decades. Notably, it can also analyze extremely short DNA fragments, strengthening the ability to determine kinship, even with distant relatives. This technological innovation is expected to pave the way for the identification of many fallen soldiers and their families, fulfilling a long-held aspiration. Source: Nhan Dan