http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/forensics/ Forensics. How accurate is DNA evidence? Fingerprints? Read current scientific research on the successes and limitations of identification techniques. en-us Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/forensics/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120511101345.htm Marks on a dead body could indicate violence and therefore murder. But they might have been made by legions of insects. A forensic scientist has built up data that will be a big aid to detectives faced with investigating gruesome discoveries. Fri, 11 May 2012 10:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120511101345.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502141132.htm His DNA has been decoded; samples from his stomach and intestines have allowed us to reconstruct his very last meal. The circumstances of his violent death appear to have been explained. However, what had, at least thus far, eluded the scientists, was identifying any traces of blood in Ötzi, the 5,000-year-old glacier mummy. Examination of his aorta had yielded no results. Yet recently, a team of scientists from Italy and Germany, using nanotechnology, succeeded in locating red blood cells in Ötzi's wounds, thereby discovering the oldest traces of blood to have been found anywhere in the world. Wed, 02 May 2012 14:11:11 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502141132.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120427163418.htm Researchers have created a three-step algorithm, lobSTR, that in one day accurately and simultaneously profiles more than 100,000 short tandem repeats in one human genome sequence -- a feat that previous systems could never complete. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120427163418.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120412182328.htm Researchers have used new DNA sequencing technology to reveal the animal and plant composition of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Some of the TCM samples tested contained potentially toxic plant ingredients, allergens, and traces of endangered animals. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120412182328.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229105126.htm Law enforcement officials who are tasked with identifying a body based on partial skeletal remains have a new tool at their disposal. A new paper from North Carolina State University researchers details how to determine the biological sex of skeletal remains based solely on measurements of the seven tarsal bones in the feet. Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229105126.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209102023.htm Fingerprints that are potential key pieces of evidence in court currently are not being considered due to shortcomings in the way this evidence is reported. Now, a statistical model has been developed that enables the weight of fingerprint evidence to be expressed in quantitative terms, paving the way for its full inclusion in the process of identifying criminals, according to a new report. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209102023.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123123915.htm US states that enacted unilateral divorce laws saw substantial increases in violent crime in the years following the reform, according to new research. But the ill-effects of the new laws appear to be largely temporary. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123123915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118165145.htm Nearly one out of seven college students surveyed at a Texas university has participated in the 'Choking Game,' a dangerous behavior where blood flow is deliberately cut off to the brain in order to achieve a high, according to a new study. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118165145.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118143622.htm Scientists described the track the toxic smoke takes through the tissues and how they accomplish their destructive work. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:36:36 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118143622.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120116200602.htm TV crime shows like Bones and CSI are quick to explain each death by showing highly detailed scans and video images of victims’ insides. Traditional autopsies, if shown at all, are at best in supporting roles to the high-tech equipment, and usually gloss over the sometimes physically grueling tasks of sawing through skin and bone. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:06:06 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120116200602.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113093820.htm As tissue slides are more routinely digitized to aid interpretation, a software program is proving its utility. In bladder cancer test case, a new software tool separates malignancy from background tissue. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:38:38 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113093820.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103135448.htm The existence of brucellosis, an infectious disease still prevalent today, has now been confirmed in ancient skeletal remains. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:54:54 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103135448.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209150154.htm Terrorist attacks with chemical weapons are a real possibility, according to a new study. Thanks to their extensive knowledge of toxic agents, and how to treat those who have been exposed, pharmacists are an invaluable resource in the event of an actual or potential chemical weapons attack. Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209150154.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110125844.htm The world's first prototype of a hand-held fingerprint drug testing device has been created by UK technology company Intelligent Fingerprinting. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110125844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101125816.htm When investigating a murder, every clue helps. New research sheds light on how -- and whether -- blow flies survive when buried underground during their development. It's an advance that will help forensic investigators understand how long a body may have been left above ground before being buried -- or possibly whether remains were moved from one grave to another. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101125816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013121703.htm Urgently needed tests which could help identify the manufacturers of designer 'legal high' drugs are now being developed. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013121703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112459.htm Researchers have found that unlike adults, most children and adolescents who are found incompetent to stand trial are not psychotic; rather, they have cognitive impairments. And, they are often too immature to understand the magnitude of the situation. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112459.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919101926.htm Researchers in the U.S. are proposing a health-based approach to identifying groups at high risk of genocide, in a first-of-its-kind attempt to target international efforts to stop these mass killings before they start. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919101926.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919074249.htm Adermatoglypia, which leaves some individuals without fingerprints, is an exceedingly rare condition. Now researchers have traced the cause of the condition to a genetic mutation that affects only four documented families in the world. Despite the mutation's scarcity, the research provides unique insights into the most complex biological phenomena, such as the consequences of lacking a single protein. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919074249.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824123128.htm Employing technology that reads the entire DNA code, researchers have pinpointed the source of a cholera outbreak in Haiti that killed more than 6,000 people and sickened 300,000. Using whole genome sequencing, which spells out the billions of chemical bases in DNA, the team of researchers provided the strongest evidence yet that peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is widespread, brought the disease to Haiti. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824123128.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110823104854.htm Employing technology that reads the entire DNA code, researchers have pinpointed the source of a cholera outbreak in Haiti that killed more than 6,000 people and sickened 300,000. Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110823104854.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720205944.htm Engineers in the UK have for the first time created a way of measuring how much force is used during a stabbing using a broken bottle. The advance is expected to have significant implications for legal forensics. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720205944.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622224459.htm Self-conscious about your age? Careful where you spit. Geneticists now can use saliva to reveal how old you are. The findings suggest a myriad of potential applications, including the development of a new forensic tool for pinpointing a suspect's age in crime-scene investigations. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622224459.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110615080213.htm Scientists have used 3D images derived from post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) scans as an aid to demonstrate injuries to a jury for the first time in evidence at a UK trial. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110615080213.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110614083930.htm Forensic scientists have to rely on their own subjective experience when asked to ascertain the age of contusions. Now, however, researchers in Norway have found a far more objective and precise method, using lamps and spectrometers. From the assembled data the researchers created a model for bruise progression over time which enables them to determine the age of the bruises more reliably. Bruises on children develop differently from on adults. Knowledge within this area could be particularly important in cases of suspected child abuse. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110614083930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110606171410.htm A brain imaging study suggests that men with a history of violent behavior may have greater gray matter volume in certain brain areas, whereas men with a history of substance use disorders may have reduced gray matter volume in other brain areas, according to a new report. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110606171410.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110527101233.htm A bacteria which infects people with cystic fibrosis could help combat other antibiotic-resistant microbes, according to new research. Scientists have discovered antibiotics from Burkholderia are effective against MRSA and even other cystic fibrosis infecting bacteria. Fri, 27 May 2011 10:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110527101233.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426151037.htm Inspection of medical records, case files and legal affidavits provides compelling evidence that medical personnel who treated detainees at Guantanamo Bay failed to inquire and/or document causes of physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed in the detainees, according to a new article. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:10:10 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426151037.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110414151524.htm Ryan was just four years old when he went to sleep on his bunk bed one night and never woke up. His mother found him strangled to death the next morning with his neck caught between the vertical post of his side ladder and mattress. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110414151524.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110412065950.htm Frequently the only biological material available to identify persons is DNA in a very degraded state. In these cases, the kits usually employed to carry out DNA identifications do not produce accurate results, given that all the DNA is not available. Biochemists have now developed a tool for identifying persons from these small fragments of DNA. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110412065950.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110411121531.htm On average, a drug on the market works effectively for only 50% of the people who take it. Would you want to prevent a potential adverse drug effect or even toxicity through a simple test? It's not science fiction, but a reality. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is the study of an individual's variation in DNA sequence related to drug response. The goal is to select the right drug at the right dose, and to avoid adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatment. Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110411121531.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110405102040.htm Scientists are making DNA sequences being passed through nanochannels a thousand times thinner than a human hair to the point that they take on the form of diminutive spaghetti. DNA stretching basically consists of the analysis of a single molecule of DNA, after stretching it, measuring its length and analyzing its sequence. Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110405102040.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110404093155.htm New research shows that they really don't make women like they used to, at least in Spain. The study, which examined hundreds of Spanish and Portuguese skulls spanning four centuries, shows that differences in the craniofacial features of men and women have become less pronounced. Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110404093155.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110323104719.htm Methadone has been used to treat heroin addicts for nearly 50 years. Yet we have surprisingly incomplete knowledge about possible harmful effects from prolonged use. New research shows that methadone affects the brain and impairs the attention of experimental animals. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110323104719.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110322105300.htm One of the blind spots in forensic science, particularly in identifying unknown remains, is the inability of experts to determine how much an individual weighed based on his or her skeleton. New research moves us closer to solving this problem by giving forensic experts valuable insight into what the shape of the femur can tell us about the weight of an individual. Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110322105300.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307151913.htm Researchers working with the FBI have published the first scientific paper based on their investigation into the anthrax attacks of 2001. The case was groundbreaking in its use of genomics and microbiology in a criminal investigation, a new field called microbial forensics. More than 20 people contracted anthrax from spores mailed in letters in 2001, and five people died. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307151913.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301122227.htm Imagine that you witness a crime. The police investigator brings you to the police station to obtain an official statement, but between the crime and your official witness statement, you are exposed to other (potentially inaccurate) information about the crime. Before administering the criminal interview, the investigator asks you a litany of mundane demographic questions in a dry and uninterested manner, then moves directly into the interview about the crime. Would you feel comfortable? Most importantly, would your report be accurate and detailed, uninfluenced by the outside information you received? Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301122227.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301111253.htm A new non-surgical post-mortem technique that has the potential to revolutionize the way autopsies are conducted around the world has been pioneered by forensic pathologists and radiologists. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301111253.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119141859.htm It is possible to construct a 3-D face from flat 2-D images, according to new research. The discovery could be used for biometrics in security applications or in forensic investigations. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119141859.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119132517.htm Sexual offenders hoping to outsmart police by using a condom during their crimes may be out of luck thanks to a technique, that can prove they have had contact with a condom and place them at the scene of the crime. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119132517.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110111083710.htm Multidetector computed tomography provides an efficient, effective way to analyze wounds from bullets and explosive devices, according to a new study. Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110111083710.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110103110329.htm The hair color of an unknown perpetrator who has committed a crime will soon no longer be a secret for forensic investigators. Scientists have discovered that DNA can be used to predict people's probable hair color. Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:03:03 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110103110329.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101201095550.htm According to a study, the best way to detect cocaine in the body of a human drug courier, known as a mule, is through computed tomography. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101201095550.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101122121629.htm Scientists have devised a method that would allow them to estimate the age of crime suspects or missing persons from blood collected at the scene of a crime. In principle, the new profiling method could be put to immediate practical use by law enforcement, according to researchers. They have already begun the required validation of the test, which is designed to assure that quality standards are met. Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:16:16 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101122121629.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101110123943.htm Snap an image of friends in front of a window curtain and the camera captures the people -- and invisible blood stains splattered on the curtain during a murder. Sound unlikely? Chemists are reporting development of a camera with that ability to see the invisible, and more. Called multimode imaging in the thermal infrared, the new technology could find uses in crime scene investigations and elsewhere, they say. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101110123943.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101021113004.htm Researchers found that the combination of computed tomography, postmortem CT angiography and biopsy can serve as a minimally invasive option for determining natural causes of death such as cardiac arrest, according to a new study. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101021113004.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101006141604.htm A study of 654 convicted and incarcerated murderers calculated the costs to society of five crimes -- murder, rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault and burglary. They estimated murder to cost $17.25 million. Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101006141604.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100929123632.htm A new approach that helps improve communication between child and caregiver, such as recognizing and managing traumatic stress symptoms and teaching coping skills, was able to prevent chronic and sub-clinical PTSD in 73 percent of children. The intervention, called the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention also reduced PTSD symptoms in children -- which can include reliving a traumatic experience, sleep disturbances or emotional numbness -- and promoted recovery more quickly than a comparison intervention. Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100929123632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100927105203.htm Homeless youths in Toronto are victims of crime at rates that would be considered unacceptable for any other group, according to a new report. More than 76 percent of homeless youth surveyed said they had been victims of violent crime in the past year, and almost three-quarters reported multiple incidents. Females and those who became homeless at the age of 16 or 17 were most vulnerable. Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100927105203.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100914095936.htm New research will help medical examiners and others identify human remains of those killed during the recent earthquake in Chile, as well as the bodies of the "disappeared" who were killed during the Pinochet administration. Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100914095936.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100907103613.htm A new study from Sweden suggests that bipolar disorder -- or manic-depressive disorder -- does not increase the risk of committing violent crime. Instead, the over-representation of individuals with bipolar disorder in violent crime statistics is almost entirely attributable to concurrent substance abuse. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100907103613.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816110503.htm Early intervention among young adolescents with delinquency problems may help prevent the development of long-term crime and substance abuse problems, a new article suggests. Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:05:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816110503.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100804122715.htm A newly developed test could make checking DNA from people arrested for crimes with DNA samples from crime scenes stored in forensic databases almost as easy as matching fingerprints. With the test, police could check on whether a person's DNA matches that found at past crime scenes while suspects are still being processed and before a decision on whether to release them on bail. Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100804122715.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706112601.htm Researchers are offering a new means of determining the sex of skeletal human remains -- an advance that may have significant impacts in the wake of disasters, the studying of ancient remains and the criminal justice system. Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706112601.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100630071254.htm A new research project in the UK will revisit and consider new hypotheses for the causation of subdural hematomas (bleeding in the brain) in Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100630071254.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100629094145.htm Researchers in Spain have shown that a person's dental patterns can be used as proof of their identity with the same degree of reliability as DNA testing, the method that forensic police use to reveal the identity of dead bodies. The researchers came to their conclusion after analyzing the dental patterns of more than 3,000 people. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100629094145.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628075742.htm A new research project is set to play a vital role in continuing research into viable alternatives to invasive autopsies, which many families find to be unpleasant. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:57:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628075742.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100624214316.htm Since the second world war, the use of rape as a weapon of war has assumed strategic importance, and is now a deliberate military strategy, argue researchers in a new editorial. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100624214316.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526095816.htm After last January earthquake, 25 Haitian children were moved to Bolivia, accompanied by people who could not prove their parenthood. Police suspicion prevented them to be taken to Brazil or Argentina. Up to 13 of them have been returned to their families, after their genetic identification. Wed, 26 May 2010 09:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526095816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100519143405.htm In a large natural disaster, such as the Haitian earthquake earlier this year, or in an unsolved homicide case, knowing the birth date of an individual can guide forensic investigators to the correct identity among a large number of possible victims. Researchers are also looking at victim's teeth to determine how old they are at the time of death. Wed, 19 May 2010 14:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100519143405.htm