The two came together. Sorenson donated DNA testing kits and Rockwood organized collection efforts. The DNA samples were flown to Salt Lake City and analyzed at Sorenson Genomics.

The kits and DNA analysis were valued at more than $1.5 million.

To date, 1,300 DNA samples have been collected by Sorenson Genomics — 500 of which are from living relatives hoping to find their loved ones. So far, 50 victims have been matched with relatives.

"We're actually in a beginning process," Sorenson said. "We want to be up there right at front, helping and working with them."

Sorenson's lab began testing mitochondrial DNA after many of the tissue samples were found to have degraded genomic DNA.

Testing of mitochondrial DNA — the genetic material found in mitochondria which are located in the cytoplasm of a cell and inherited maternally — can be used to make comparisons when matching victims with other victims, when no surviving relatives can be found.

"This is the only lab that did the mitochondrial DNA testing," Porntip said. "This is the better way to bring them home in a short time."

In some places in Khao Lak, Thailand, Rockwood said, three generations perished together — grandparents, parents and children.

"There are no surviving relatives to do that much," Rockwood said. "However, with the data that we generate from Sorenson Genomics extractions, we can show those relationship pairs, which nobody else can do."

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E-mail: danderton@desnews.com