Bonaparte
Definition
NFI kinship-matching software used in the MH17 DVI operation and subsequent Dutch-led mass-casualty responses; handles pedigrees across multiple national reference-sample databases.
- Function
- Kinship-matching software for DNA-based identification
- Developer
- NFI (Netherlands Forensic Institute)
- Notable deployment
- MH17 disaster victim identification operation
- Capability
- Cross-references pedigrees across multiple national databases
Common questions
What problem does kinship-matching software like Bonaparte solve in mass-fatality cases?+
When remains are too fragmented or degraded for direct antemortem-postmortem comparison, the software compares a DNA profile from remains against DNA profiles of surviving relatives across complex family trees, calculating likelihood ratios for each possible identity rather than requiring investigators to compare pedigrees by hand.
Why does cross-national reference data matter for software like Bonaparte?+
Mass-fatality incidents often involve victims and families from many countries, each running separate national DNA databases and reference-sample collections. Software able to reconcile matches across these separate systems avoids missing an identification simply because the relevant reference sample sits in a different country's database.
Related terms
- Direct Reference Match
- A DVI DNA comparison between a post-mortem profile and a reference profile derived from a personal effect (toothbrush, razor, stored sample) known...
- DVI (Disaster Victim Identification)
- The systematic multi-agency process for identifying victims of mass-casualty events, governed by the INTERPOL DVI Guide 2018 revision. Organises work into five...
- Kinship Match
- A DVI DNA comparison between a post-mortem profile and reference profiles from one or more biological relatives, using a pedigree-based likelihood ratio...
- M-FIsys
- Kinship-matching software developed by the Netherlands Forensic Institute and first deployed at scale in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Thailand DVI operation.
- NYC OCME
- New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner; led the 9/11 WTC DNA identification operation and developed the mini-STR and high-throughput mtDNA...
- Pink Form
- The INTERPOL DVI post-mortem recording form, used to document all biometric data collected from human remains (fingerprints, dental charts, DNA, physical descriptors,...
- Yellow Form
- The INTERPOL DVI ante-mortem recording form, completed by family liaison officers using information and reference samples provided by relatives of the missing.