UGA is partnering with Project Recover to develop a portable eDNA system for detecting human DNA at MIA burial sites, led by Professors Laurie Reitsema and Magdy Alabady. This cutting-edge research aims to revolutionize the search for missing soldiers by using minimally invasive soil and water samples to pinpoint unmarked graves. In a recent field mission at Texas State University’s Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, the team tested this technology by collecting hundreds of samples from known and suspected burial sites. Reitsema’s expertise in anthropology plays a pivotal role in refining methods for accurate and efficient DNA detection, helping to bring missing soldiers home faster.
