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Forensic identification of skeletal remains from members of Ernesto Che Guevara's guerrilas in Boliva based on DNA typing [1] Richard Wolfe PBIO 427. Che Guevara. Argentine doctor 1956 helped Fidel Castro invade Cuba [2] 1965 left Cuba for revolution in Congo-Kinshasa [3]
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Forensic identification of skeletal remains from members of Ernesto Che Guevara's guerrilas in Boliva based on DNA typing [1] Richard Wolfe PBIO 427
Che Guevara • Argentine doctor • 1956 helped Fidel Castro invade Cuba [2] • 1965 left Cuba for revolution in Congo-Kinshasa [3] • 1966 Bolivia led 50 guerrillas • 1967 captured and executed
Bolivia • 1995 created commission to find remains of Che's guerrilla members • Buried in countryside • Found 2 burial sites • Canada del Arroyo site • Florida Provence site
Suspected Remains • Canada del Arroyo site Jaime Arana Campero (Bolivia) Francisco Huanca Flores (Bolivia) Lucio Edilberto Galvan (Peru) Octavio de la Concepcion (Cuba) • Florida Provence site Carlos Coello (Cuba)
Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) • Relatively new process in 1995 • Considered imperative for 2 Cubans and Peruvian • Both Cubans had wife and a child • Peruvian only had a brother so mitochondrial DNA analysis • At certain loci there are short (2-7bp) segments of DNA that repeat a variable of times • There are two copies of these areas, from father and mother • The number of repeats is inherited, one from each parent • The more loci compared gives a higher probability of identification
DNA Extraction • Bones buried 30 years in poor condition • Femoral (thigh) in all cases used • Samples sent to 2 laboratories in Cuba • For each bone sample DNA extracted twice plus a blank • DNA extracted using a detergent, protease, organic extraction, and spin dialysis
Amplification • STRs were amplified by PCR • Primer sets for 9 loci were used • After amplification STRs run on polyacrylamide gel using electrophoresis • Each sample was visually compared to a known ladder • PCR used to amplify mtDNA from Peruvian bone sample
Conclusion • No exclusion pattern for both Cuban remains • Both Cuban remains identified using STRs • The Peruvian could not be identified using paternity analysis because only a brother was available • When mtDNA was compared they were different, neither a positive id nor an exclusion • Historical and anthropological evidence and a positive identification of the two Cubans conclude the identities of the other three remains • The positive identification of members of the Ernesto “Che” Guevara guerrilla is important for both historical and humanitarian reasons.
References 1. Lioenart R, et al; Forensic identification of skeletal remains from members of Ernesto Che Guevara's guerrillas in Bolivia based on DNA typing. Int J Legal Med. 2000, 113:98-101. 2. www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991268,00.html 3. Che picture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CheHigh.jpg 4. Bolivia map. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivia 5. Nadella V; Lecture 7.pdf. PBIO428. 2011.