IPATIMUP: DNA profile database in Portugal

The creation and usage of the DNA profile database (DB) for civil identification and criminal investigation purposes are due for this month, April 2009. The law nº 5/2008 of 12th February defines the terms and conditions for its creation and maintenance, and the ordinance nº 270/2009 of 17th March defines the genetic markers that will be integrated in the upcoming six genetic profile files (profiles from convicted offenders, volunteers, reference samples, problem samples for civil identification and for criminal investigations). The choice of the seven obligatory DNA markers corresponds to the group already defined as the “European Standard Set” and is also justified by the need to match the Portuguese DB with the already existing European ones. The DNA markers chosen for analysis and insertion in the DB are widely studied by the scientific community, especially in the forensic genetics field. They are markers of choice in parentage investigations and genetic identification (of people or traces), exams usually requested, officially or privately, to entities such as the National Institute of Legal Medicine (INML) or IPATIMUP. The headquarters for the DB installation will be at INML, who will also be responsible for data treatment and all operations applicable. IPATIMUP is technically and scientifically prepared to collaborate, as already referred by the Commission Coordinator of this genetic database.

More information:

IPATIMUP – GenID – Parentage Testing and Genetic Identification

(IPATIMUP, 13 April 2009)