Which of the following is a type of scientific identification?

• A. Nuclear DNA
• B. Temperature assessment
• C. Blood type analysis
• D. Document examination

Answer: (A)

Scientific identification depends on markers that can differentiate individuals. Nuclear DNA provides a genetic profile made up of highly variable regions (STRs) that are effectively unique to each person (with rare exceptions like identical twins). This allows for precise matching of remains to a person or to a reference sample, making it the strongest, most definitive type of identification among the options. Temperature assessment, by contrast, informs about postmortem conditions or environmental context rather than who the person is. Blood type analysis reveals a broad class characteristic that can help narrow possibilities but cannot uniquely identify an individual. Document examination focuses on the origin or authenticity of a document and does not identify who survived or died.