Forensic science



Forensic Science 3062
Photo by: Loren Rodgers

Forensic science is the application of science to matters of law. A basic principle of forensic science is that a criminal always brings something to the scene of a crime that he or she leaves behind. The "something" left behind is the evidence that detectives and criminalists (people who make use of science to solve crimes) look for. It might be fingerprints, footprints, teeth marks, blood, semen, hair, fibers, broken glass, a knife or gun, or a bullet. It also might be something less tangible such as the nature of the wounds or bruises left on a victim's body, which might indicate the nature of the weapon or the method of assault. Careful analysis of evidence left at the scene of a crime often can be used in establishing the guilt or innocence of someone on trial.

Fingerprints

Although fingerprints have been used by crime investigators for more than a century, they remain one of the most sought after pieces of evidence. All human beings are born with a characteristic set of ridges on their fingertips. The ridges, which are rich in sweat pores, form a pattern that remains fixed for life. Even if the skin is removed, the same pattern will be evident when the skin regenerates. Some of the typical patterns found in fingerprints are arches, loops, and whorls.

Oils from sweat glands collect on these ridges. When we touch something, a small amount of the oils and other materials on our fingers are left on the surface of the object we touched. The pattern left by these substances, which collect along the ridges on our fingers, make up the fingerprints that police look for at the scene of a crime. Fingerprints collected as evidence can be compared with fingerprints on file or taken from a suspect. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains a fingerprint library with patterns taken from more than 10 percent of the entire United States population.

Fingerprints being recorded onto an electronic tracking system. (Reproduced by permission of Phototake.)
Fingerprints being recorded onto an electronic tracking system. (Reproduced by permission of
Phototake
.)

Fingerprints are not the only incriminating patterns that a criminal may leave behind. Lip prints are frequently found on glasses. Footprints and the soil left on the print may match those found in a search of an accused person's premises. Tire tracks, bite marks, toe prints, and prints left by bare feet also may provide useful evidence. In cases where identifying a victim is difficult because of tissue decomposition or death caused by explosions or extremely forceful collisions, a victim's teeth may be used for comparison with dental records.

Genetic fingerprinting

The nuclei within our cells contain coiled, threadlike bodies called chromosomes. Chromosomes are made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA carries the "blueprint" (genes) that directs the growth, maintenance, and activities that go on within our bodies.

Although certain large strands of DNA are the same in all of us, no two people have exactly the same DNA (except for identical twins). It is these unique strands of DNA that are used by forensic scientists to establish a characteristic pattern—the so-called genetic fingerprint. Because different people have different DNA, the prints obtained from different people will vary considerably; however, two samples from the same person will be identical. If there is a match between DNA extracted from semen found on the body of a rape victim and the DNA obtained from a rape suspect's blood, the match is very convincing evidence and may well lead to a conviction or possibly a confession.

Other evidence used in forensic science

Long before DNA was recognized as the "ink" in the blueprints of life, blood samples were collected and analyzed in crime labs. The evidence available through blood typing is not as convincing as genetic fingerprinting, but it can readily prove innocence or increase the probability of a defendant being guilty. All humans belong to one of four blood groups: A, B, AB, or O. If a person accused of a homicide has type AB blood and it matches the type found at the crime scene, the evidence for guilt is more convincing than if a match were found for type O blood.

Bullets and the remains of tools can be used as incriminating evidence. When a bullet is fired, it moves along a spiral groove in the gun barrel. It is this groove that makes the bullet spin so that it will follow a straight path much like that of a spiraling football. The markings on a bullet made by the groove are unique to each gun. Similarly, tool marks, which are often left by burglars who pry open doors or windows, can serve as useful evidence if comparisons can be made with tools associated with a person accused of the crime. Particularly incriminating are jigsaw matches—pieces of a tool left behind that can be shown to match pieces missing from a tool in the possession of the accused.

Autopsies

An autopsy can often establish the cause and approximate time of death. Cuts, scrapes, punctures, and rope marks may help to establish the cause of death. A drowning victim will have soggy lungs, water in the stomach, and blood diluted with water in the left side of the heart. A person who was not breathing when he or she entered the water will have undiluted blood in the heart. Bodies examined shortly after the time of death may have stiff jaws and limbs. Such stiffness, or rigor mortis, is evident about ten hours after death, but disappears after about a day when the tissues begin to decay at normal temperatures. Each case is different, of course, and a skillful coroner can often discover evidence that the killer never suspected he or she had left behind.

[ See also Nucleic acid ]



Also read article about Forensic Science from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Kam
I have a question.. how long has forensic sciences been used... not just fingerprinting...?... thkns for your time!


Sincerley Kam
2
Berdine Joyce
I was wondering when they first started using the DNA profiling?
Also it is possible to tell from Forensic knot analysis if the suspect might be left or right handed?
Thanks
Berdine
3
Chris
How long does it take for a human brain to liquify in 93 degree heat?
4
lexy
this information is good, but i'm doing a project for school and need more on the different searches e.g. lane search, grid search and spiral search. But otherwise the information is really good and has helped me out quite a lot. thank you
5
brittany bennett
I am doing a research paper on forensic science the methods of identification of the body. I need to know about fingerprinting, bones, and teeth
6
Prathyusha
Hello!This article is informative.I am doing a presentation on Forensics sciences.I need to know complete information on forensic sciences.How could I get it?
7
Alicia
Hi! I'm doing a school project too and need to know more on Bullet wounds and how they are used.
yeah i really like the science project and i would like more of what were suppose to do with the fingerprints
9
monie
this info is quite good, but i hav a prject to do in sciece, so im gonna need a little more...
Can fingerprints be found on a human body if they have been tuched??
Thanks
Jamila
nice it is very halpful and i got some info out of it for my assingment
12
Liz Cox
I saw on Investigation Discovery channel that a forensic scientist said, That they could tell when identifying a dead person, if that person was right or left handed by their teeth. How is that?
One day I plan on having a career in forensic science watt field in college would I have to take up in order to dothis
14
shadrack
I am greatful for having secured a chance to study forensic science and hopefully it will help me and the society curb the security crisis.
15
xena
how do dissections relate to forensic science and body of human and animals?

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