Austin, JeremyLinacre, AdrianRahmat, Rabi'ah Al-Adawiyah Binti2020-08-172020-08-172020http://hdl.handle.net/2440/127012Loss of lives due to building fires, vehicle explosions, terrorist bombings and bushfires require immediate response and identification of any deceased. The temperatures reached in these catastrophic events can widely vary from approximately 300°C to more than 1000°C. This can be sufficient to leave humans remain in an extremely fragile and fragmented state. In such circumstances, teeth can survive the harsh condition and are therefore one of the most frequently used biological tissues used for DNA profiling. Currently there is very little empirical data to determine the opportunity for successful genetic typing from teeth incinerated at varying temperatures. A process whereby the generation of DNA data from highly burned teeth can be predicted would be highly beneficial. If there is a prediction of DNA typing, then a process to generate these data would further aid in the process of human identification from such sample types. The research in this thesis highlights the development of three novel pre-screening methods for incinerated teeth: ▪ a temperature-prediction tool ▪ a DNA viability triage ▪ a diagnostic workflow A holistic approach is utilised in this thesis that integrates multiple analytical methods such as colourimetry, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscope and DNA analysis. The research data in this thesis are generated and analysed in the following forms: photographic images, colourimetric values, hydroxyapatite crystallite size, X-ray diffractogram, microscopic images and quantified DNA. The research is presented stepwise following the chapters: Chapter 1 – A comprehensive review of the current literature relating to the study of incinerated teeth including the structure, DNA contents and investigative approaches. Chapter 2 – The practicality of a fire simulation as an experimental approach to incinerated teeth was tested and evaluated. The decision to incinerate teeth using a furnace was made. Chapter 3 – The integration of spectrophotometric and x-ray diffraction analyses to investigate incinerated teeth was established. Chapter 4 – Based on the validation study in Chapter 3, a tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated teeth was developed and validated. Chapter 5 – nDNA and mtDNA analysis from incinerated teeth was discussed. Using the data from Chapter 4 and the data of the quantified DNA, a diagnostic triage for DNA viability in incinerated teeth was established. In addition, an optimised workflow for the investigation of incinerated teeth that will be used for DNA analysis was proposed. Overall, this thesis presents novel and robust pre-screening methods that can offer important information prior to DNA analysis of incinerated teeth. In addition, this research provides an opportunity to advance the understanding about the forensic value of incinerated teeth in predicting temperature and assessing DNA viability. A major implication of this research is the possibility to implement the developed methods in forensic identification using incinerated teeth.enBurned teethincinerated teethheat treatmenthigh temperaturefire simulationhuman identificationexperimental approachtemperature estimationcolourimetryx-ray diffractionDNA analysisDNA extractionquantitative polymerase chain reactionDNA predictive modelThesis