New DNA Technology To Help Identify Remains Of 9/11 Victims

CBS New York

30 Aug 202100:32

Summary

TLDRThis transcript discusses the launch of new educational classes in history, English, and social studies, specifically aimed at the 9/11 events. These classes are designed for specific grade levels. Additionally, new DNA technology will be used to identify over 1,100 victims of the 9/11 attacks who remain unidentified. New York City's medical team is approved to use a forensic technique called next-generation sequencing, which has been employed by the Department of Defense for identifying remains from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Takeaways

🎓 The 9/11 classes will begin this week, covering subjects like history, English, and social studies.
📚 These classes are tailored to specific grade levels.
🧬 New DNA technology will be used to analyze the remains of more than 1,100 victims from the 9/11 attacks who have not yet been identified.
🧪 The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has reportedly been approved to use a forensic method called 'next-generation sequencing.'
⚙️ This new DNA method is currently being used by the Department of Defense.
🌍 'Next-generation sequencing' is already being applied to identify remains from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
🔬 The method is expected to enhance efforts in identifying previously unidentified remains.
🏙️ New York City is at the forefront of using advanced forensic technology for victim identification.
🕰️ These efforts mark a continued push for closure for families affected by 9/11.
🧩 The unidentified remains of 9/11 victims are currently being re-examined using this new method.

Q & A

What subjects will the 9/11 classes cover?
-The 9/11 classes will cover history, English, and social studies.
When will the 9/11 classes begin?
-The 9/11 classes will begin this week.
Who are the 9/11 classes targeted to?
-The 9/11 classes are targeted to specific grade levels.
What new technology is being used to analyze the remains of 9/11 victims?
-New DNA technology called next-generation sequencing will be used to analyze the remains.
How many 9/11 victims remain unidentified?
-More than 1,100 victims of the 9/11 attacks remain unidentified.
Which organization approved the use of the new forensic method for 9/11 victims?
-The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office reportedly approved the use of the new forensic method.
What is the name of the forensic method being used to identify the remains?
-The forensic method is called next-generation sequencing.
Which organization is already using next-generation sequencing for forensic purposes?
-The Department of Defense is already using next-generation sequencing.
In what other conflicts is next-generation sequencing used to identify remains?
-Next-generation sequencing is used to identify remains from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Where are the unidentified remains of the 9/11 victims currently held?
-The unidentified remains of 9/11 victims are currently held by the authorities, although the exact location isn't specified in the script.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Classes on 9/11 History Begin

The 9/11 classes will commence this week in subjects like history, English, and social studies, specifically designed for various grade levels. These classes will cover significant aspects of the 9/11 events.

🧬 New DNA Technology to Identify 9/11 Victims

A new DNA technology, Next-Generation Sequencing, is being introduced to help identify the remains of over 1,100 victims from the 9/11 attacks who have not yet been identified. The method has been approved by the New York City medical team, and it is already in use by the Department of Defense to identify remains from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The unidentified remains of 9/11 victims will undergo this advanced forensic analysis.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡9/11 attacks

The 9/11 attacks refer to the terrorist events that took place on September 11, 2001, when hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field. The video references the ongoing efforts to identify victims of this tragedy, underlining the historical and emotional impact of the event.

💡DNA technology

DNA technology refers to scientific methods used to analyze genetic material. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a new method being employed to identify the remains of 9/11 victims, highlighting the advancements in forensic science and the importance of identifying lost individuals.

💡Next-Generation Sequencing

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a modern forensic method that allows for fast and highly detailed analysis of DNA. The video explains that this technique will be used by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office to help identify 9/11 victims, showing its significance in improving identification efforts for historical tragedies.

💡New York City Medical Examiner

The New York City Medical Examiner is the agency responsible for identifying human remains in the city, including those from the 9/11 attacks. In the video, they are referenced as the group implementing new DNA methods to continue their work in identifying victims, emphasizing their role in forensic investigation.

💡Unidentified remains

Unidentified remains refer to the body parts or genetic material that have not yet been linked to specific individuals. In the video, it is mentioned that more than 1,100 victims of the 9/11 attacks remain unidentified, which highlights the ongoing challenges and emotional toll this has on families.

💡World War II

World War II is a global conflict that occurred from 1939 to 1945. The video mentions that the Department of Defense uses DNA technology to identify remains from this war, drawing a parallel to the efforts to identify 9/11 victims and showing the long-term impact of wars and tragedies on families seeking closure.

💡Department of Defense

The Department of Defense is a branch of the U.S. government responsible for military affairs. In the video, it is mentioned as already using Next-Generation Sequencing to identify remains from past conflicts such as World War II and the Korean War, underscoring the government’s use of advanced forensic methods.

💡Korean War

The Korean War, a conflict between North and South Korea from 1950 to 1953, is referenced as another instance where DNA technology has been used to identify soldiers' remains. This provides historical context to the video, showing how such technology has been vital in solving long-standing cases of unidentified remains.

💡Vietnam War

The Vietnam War, which occurred from 1955 to 1975, is also mentioned in the video. The Department of Defense uses similar DNA technology to identify the remains of soldiers from this conflict, linking it to the ongoing identification efforts for 9/11 victims and showing the broad applicability of these forensic techniques.

💡Historical identification

Historical identification refers to the process of using forensic methods to identify individuals from past events or conflicts. The video emphasizes this concept through its discussion of ongoing efforts to identify victims of the 9/11 attacks and earlier wars, demonstrating the long-term relevance of forensic science.

Highlights

The 9/11 classes will begin this week, covering subjects like history, English, and social studies, targeted to specific grade levels.

New DNA technology will be used to analyze the remains of more than 1,100 victims of the 9/11 attacks who have yet to be identified.

The New York City medical office has reportedly been approved to utilize a new forensic method called Next-Generation Sequencing.

Next-Generation Sequencing is already being used by the Department of Defense.

This technology is also applied to identify remains from previous wars like World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Over 1,100 victims of the 9/11 attacks remain unidentified.

New forensic methods are making it possible to identify the remains of long-lost victims.

The unidentified remains of 9/11 victims are currently being stored as the new technology is employed to try and bring closure to families.

The Department of Defense’s use of advanced DNA analysis methods showcases the widespread application of this technology in historical forensic investigations.

The identification process for victims from historical conflicts shows the ongoing efforts to provide closure for families.

The continued application of forensic advancements may lead to breakthroughs in unresolved cases.

Efforts to identify victims of the 9/11 attacks have been ongoing for over two decades, reflecting the complexity of the task.

Next-Generation Sequencing represents a major step forward in forensic science and historical investigations.

This method’s ability to handle degraded DNA makes it particularly useful for long-past events.

Advances in DNA technology highlight the progress in forensic capabilities for identifying remains from tragic events.