# How do they do DNA matching for dead terrorists?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-do-dna-matching-for-dead-terrorists/388728>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 20, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-do-dna-matching-for-dead-terrorists/388728 "2007-01-20T16:58:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-do-dna-matching-for-dead-terrorists/388728/1 "2007-01-20T16:58:43Z")

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Do they have thier DNA on file somewhere? Do they use family members? How is this sort of thing done in a situation like [this](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070120/ap_on_re_as/philippines_abu_sayyaf)?

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**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-do-dna-matching-for-dead-terrorists/388728/2 "2007-01-20T17:15:02Z")

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Interesting question. I wonder how we could ever conclusively know if we killed Osama Bin Ladin (if we have his DNA on file, where did it come from)?

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**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-do-dna-matching-for-dead-terrorists/388728/3 "2007-01-20T17:18:39Z")

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[QUOTE=Blalron]  
Interesting question. I wonder how we could ever conclusively know if we killed Osama Bin Ladin (if we have his DNA on file, where did it come from)?  
[/QUOTE]

He has a massive family, some of whom live in the United States. It would probably be easy to get a sample from one of his brothers or sisters to match up to the DNA of the body.

Which, incidentally, is probably how we get DNA to compare for dead terrorism suspects. We can also search their residences to look for toothbrushes or hairbrushes-- even dirty clothing can yeild DNA.

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**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-do-dna-matching-for-dead-terrorists/388728/4 "2007-01-20T20:33:11Z")

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We have DNA from his family:

> [@](#):
>
> FBI agents travelled to Saudi Arabia in November, when the Taliban were clearly on the verge of defeat, and took DNA from some of bin Laden’s 53 siblings. It is believed they also asked for a sample from his mother. They used the standard method in criminal inquiries: a mouth swab, brushed lightly inside the cheek, to remove surface skin cells.

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