this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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Showerthoughts

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 45 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

DNA doesn't tell you who a person is without having a sample from a person to compare it to... We'd be able to tell if they were human or not. That's about it.

Not only that, but afaik there isn't just 1 body interred there. It's a whole mess of unidentified bodies buried together.

[–] Depress_Mode@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you had access to a large genetic database, it would theoretically be possible to find living relatives, provided at least one (even quite distant) relative is included in that database. It may be possible to then retrace familial history to determine who specifically it may have been.

That’s more or less how they managed to find the Golden State Killer. Someone noticed that the GSK’s DNA had distantly related DNA listed in GEDmatch’s private database and family trees were constructed to narrow down suspects until only one remained based on timing, location, and other details. The person listed in the database and the GSK were so distantly related that they only shared a great-great-great-great grandfather.

[–] Tekomepossenomo@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And the gender. And whether they had chromosomal anomalies

[–] Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Unless there was a serious mixup, we already know the soldier was one of four randomly selected males.

[–] guylacaptivite@sh.itjust.works 41 points 1 year ago

That's not the point of the tomb.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 26 points 1 year ago

The tomb would exist with or without bodies being identified. Even if we identified all combatants, there are plenty of other casualties that could deserve similar anonymous respect.

[–] kakes@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

99 Percent Invisible did an interesting episode about exactly this.

[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Already has happened.