Introduction (data are not obtained from the literature as it is
done by other databases [8])
• Organisation of ring trials for improving the Sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA is an analytical certainty; advanced and highly efficient method. Over the past • Frequency investigations for expert opinions on few years the introduction of PCR technology in
DNA analysis has revolutionised the criminal in- traces by institutes, public prosecutors and courts;
• Investigations for scientific purposes for all part- vestigation of traces [1,2]. Since the D-loop region ner institutes; exhibits almost only point mutations, identification is • Collection of data of different ethnic groups in possible only by sequencing. The disadvantages of Central Europe. this method are time-consuming and costly analytical
and evaluation procedures and the lack of sufficient
population-genetic data. If three or more differences 2.2. Technical basis
are found when comparing the sequences of the trace
and of the suspect, the relevant person is deemed – Following the recommendations of the German
with the required degree of certainty – not to have Information Security Agency (http://www.bsi.de),
caused the biological trace [3]. However, to date it hardware, software and data are secured on the basis
has not been possible to reach a sufficiently high of the instructions contained the IT Baseline Protecdegree
of certainty in calculating the probability of tion Manual for Medium-Level Protection Requirements
(1997). The architecture of the database, i.e. identity of the person when the sequences are
identical as there is not yet a sufficient stock of data the structure of the data sets, is based on the
available on an international scale [3–7]. To over- MitBASE [9] architecture. Each record contains at
come this problem and join their sequences institutes least a minimum of personal data for identifying the
of forensic medicine from Austria, Switzerland, and ethnological and geographical origin of the mtDNA
Germany decided almost 2 years ago to combine sequence. In the section of ‘sequence data’ the data
their efforts and found a joint database. Today this sheet contains both the position of the analysed
database comprises 13 institutes (see authorship).