DNA examination has become an important tool for identifying victims from DVI mass disasters. Skeletal samples thus become a choice in personal identification through DNA profiling[5,11,19]. Of course, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis has been the first choice in old archaeological remains, due to its high copy number per cell [1]. DNA can be damaged by adverse environmental conditions that are ubiquitous in nature. Some of these include ultraviolet irradiation, humidity and water, low pH and enzymes called nucleases, which can result in fragmentation of DNA[[1]Application of mini-STR loci to severely degraded casework samples.

Int. Congr. Ser. 2006; 1288: 522-525

,[4]Factors affecting the STR amplification success in poorly preserved bone samples.

Investig. Genet. 2010; 1: 9

]. This degradation can impact STR profiling in various ways. However, victims from several wars and natural disasters including those from Chile, Argentina and Guatemala who died in the 1970s and 1980s and those from recent war conflicts including Iraq or Libya have been identified using DNA profiling methods [[2]Degradation in forensic trace DNA samples explored by massively parallel sequencing.

Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2017; 27: 160-166

]. In addition, DNA analyses was successful in identifying the victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Asian Tsunami disaster in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Similarly, DNA profiling helped to identify missing victims from the World Trade Centre in September 2001 and Madrid bombing in March 2004 [[3]DNA identification of skeletal remains from World War II mass graves uncovered in Slovenia.

Croat. Med. J. 2007; 48: 513-519

]. The DNA quantity, presence of inhibitors and degradation level can now be detected using the real time PCR kits such as Quantifiler Trio and Hyres kits [[8]Automatable full demineralization DNA extraction procedure from degraded skeletal remains.

Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2012; 6: 398-406

,[13]Population genetics of short tandem repeat (STR) loci.

Human Identification: The Use of DNA Markers. Springer, 1995: 69-87

,[18]The thermal history of human fossils and the likelihood of successful DNA amplification.

J. Hum. Evol. 2003; 45: 203-217

]. The aim of this study was to investigate the success rate of short tandem repeat (STR) typing in bone samples exposed to various conditions for different periods of time using GlobalFiler™ PCR kit. DNA analysis ofhuman remains is of immense importance in missing persons identification and disaster victim identification (DVI) [[9]Bringing colour back after 70 years: predicting eye and hair colour from skeletal remains of World War II victims using the HIrisPlex system.

Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2017; 26: 48-57

,[10]DNA identifications after the 9/11 world trade center attack.

Science. 2005; 310

].