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Organic material found on a bullet fragment from the John F. Kennedy assassination is "human tissue in varying states of preservation," according to the The National Archives and Records Administration.
The bullet fragment was recovered from the limousine in which Kennedy and Connally were riding.
Federal officials said they may soon ask blood relatives of President Kennedy and the late Texas Gov. John Connally to submit body tissue samples for DNA tests aimed at resolving lingering questions about the 1963 assassination, in which Connally was wounded.
NARA and the now-defunct Assassination Records Review Board revealed last summer that tests on the fragments would be conducted. Officials said tests were intended to shed light on such issues as whether a previously unknown fourth bullet had been fired at the presidential motorcade.
A NARA statement released February 19 said in part:
Examination of four small pieces of possibly organic material showed that the material consisted of human tissue in varying states of preservation. Samples were taken from each of the four pieces and were submitted to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory for mitochondrial DNA analysis. The initial tests were inconclusive, so additional samples were submitted for analysis. NARA has monitored the testing and awaits the final results of the tests. Results of these tests may be compared to DNA samples from other Warren Commission exhibits.
An assistant to the slain President's son, John F. Kennedy Jr., said: "He won't have any reaction. He doesn't really discuss the assassination at all." His sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, did not respond to a request for comment. Melody Miller, a spokeswoman for Kennedy's brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), said: "It would be premature to consider such a decision before the testing is completed. No request may be forthcoming."
Connally's brother, Merrill, of Floresville, Texas, said: "This is the first I've heard of it, so I haven't figured out yet whether I'd want to give a sample."
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