Forensic Science International 113 (2000) 113–118 www.elsevier.com / locate / forsciint Mitochondrial DNA in the central european population Human identification with the help of the forensic mt-DNA D-Loop-Base Database a, b c d e f * H. Wittig , C. Augustin , A. Baasner , U. Bulnheim , N. Dimo-Simonin , J. Edelmann , g h i a j k l S. Hering , S. Jung , S. Lutz , M. Michael ,W. Parson , M. Poetsch , P.M. Schneider , m a G. Weichhold , D. Krause a Institute of Forensic Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany b Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg, Butenfeld 34, 22529 Hamburg, Germany c Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany d Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Rostock, St. Georg Str. 108, 18055 Rostock, Germany e ´ ´ Institut universitaire de medecine legale, Rue de Bugnon, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland f Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 28, 04103 Leipzig, Germany g Institute of Forensic Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany h ¨ ¨ Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Wurzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078 Wurzburg, Germany i Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 9, 79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany j ¨ Institute of Forensic Medicine, Leopold Franz University Innsbruck, Mullerstr. 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria k Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Kuhstr. 30, 17487 Greifswald, Germany l Institute of legal Medicine, University of Mainz, Am Pulverturm 3, 55131 Mainz, Germany m ¨ Institute of Legal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University, Frauenlobstr.7a, 80337 Munchen, Germany Abstract Sequencing of mtDNA is an advanced method for the individualisation of traces. Disadvantages of this method are expensive and time-consuming analysis and evaluation procedures as well as the necessary stock of population-genetic data which is still insufficient. Central European institutes of forensic medicine from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have been working together since the beginning of 1998 to establish a mtDNA database. The aim is to build up a large stock of forensically established data and provide population-genetic data for frequency investigations, which will serve as a basis for expert opinions and scientific research. Good data quality is ensured by using original sequences only. Ring tests, which have been conducted to enhance analytical reliability, revealed a high correspondence rate of the analytical results obtained by the individual member institutes. Today 1410 sequences are available for comparison, of which 1285 sequences in the HV1 and HV2 regions cover the full ranges from 16 051 to 16 365 and from 73 to 340 (according to Anderson). The major part is formed by Central European sequences comprising 1256 data sets from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Today the database contains sequences from a total of 12 European, six African and three Asian countries including 100 sequences from Japan. This paper is aimed at discussing the individualisation potentials of mtDNA as well as the possibilities and limits of ethnic differentiation by means of pairwise sequence differences on the basis of the data stock available.  2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. *Corresponding author. Fax: 149-391-67-15810. E-mail address: Holger.Wittig@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de (H. Wittig). 0379-0738 / 00 / $ – see front matter  2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S0379-0738(00)00250-4