The DNA Doe Project is a group of dozens of volunteers using DNA and family trees to identify the unidentifiable.<\/p>\n
PHOENIX There are an estimated 40,000 unidentified human remains in the United States.<\/p>\n
That's 40,000 people who have no names and no closure for families missing their loved ones.<\/p>\n
They had a life, they had a story,\" said Carrien Binder, a genetic genealogist with the DNA Doe Project. They deserve to have their name back.<\/p>\n
The project began in 2017. It's made up of 40 to 60 unpaid volunteers trying to figure out who these people are.<\/p>\n
Our goal is to identify Jane and John Doe's using genetic genealogy, Binder said.<\/p>\n
The idea is to get a DNA sample from the \"Doe\" and then compare it with publicly sourced DNA databases like GenBank. The project then looks for relatives and begins forming a family tree.<\/p>\n
We can use really distance matches like fifth cousins, third cousins, and fourth cousins to build up family trees and make an identification, Binder said.<\/p>\n
The project works in groups trying to puzzle together a tree. Sometimes identifications come together quickly. There is a DNA hit that is a close relative. Other times the puzzle can take years, looking for that missing branch to help identify a John or Jane Doe.<\/p>\n
\"This is my main hobby. I dont watch a lot of Netflix. I dont have a lot of time for other things. But it is really fulfilling and satisfying and it scratches that mystery-solving itch.\" Binder said.<\/p>\n
In the last few months, The DNA Doe Project identified two previously unidentified people: A woman found in downtown Phoenix in 2017 and a murder victim found on baseline road in 1983.<\/p>\n
A lot of people assume if someone is a John or Jane Doe, no one is looking for them. And I have found that is never true.<\/p>\n
In four years, the project has identified more than 70John and Jane Doe's. Binder said at least a third of those identifications happened in the last year.<\/p>\n
\"They deserve to be recognized as a whole person, with a family with hobbies,\" Binder said, \"I think we can give them a part of that when we restore their name\"<\/p>\n
If you want to help the program you can always donate.<\/p>\n
Also if you do have DNA results from at-home DNA tests like 23andMe and ancestry type groups, you can share them with a publicly sourced site to give them more potential matches.<\/p>\n
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.<\/p>\n
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\nThere are thousands of unidentified remains. Meet the volunteer organization trying to identify them - 12news.com KPNX<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"