Forensic Science – The Many Sciences Applied To Crime Solving
The number of people who are employed in the field of forensic science, which deals with the science of identifying human remains and evidence left behind at a crime scene, has increased significantly over the past two decades. As a result, more and more methods are being introduced to help support this branch of sciences. Some of these methods include DNA profiling, criminology research and laboratory techniques. By having access to these new technologies in order to better investigate crimes, law enforcement agencies can further uncover information that may lead to further investigation or suspects involved in future cases.
Forensic scientists work on many different scientific aspects when it comes to investigating crimes such as fingerprints, hair microscopy examination or eye witness identification among others. By employing specific laboratory techniques and methods, forensic scientists can support police investigations by identifying elements at a crime scene that can lead to valuable evidence for the case.
There are a number of specialties in the field of forensic sciences. Depending on their background, interests and expertise, individuals can be involved in areas such as biology, chemistry or physics among others. The most common types of professionals who deal with forensics include biologists, chemists, medical practitioners and physicists among others. As with any other scientific field, it is important that all individuals involved maintain a high degree of accuracy in their private practices and within their respective laboratories as well as keep abreast of any new developments or discoveries with regards to forensic fields to maintain transparency within the industry.
It is unlikely that many people who deal with forensic science have ever heard of a Shrunken Head. The term is used to describe the practice of using a doll or wax replica as an approximation of what the actual human head would look like after it had been shrunk down. This approach has been used in numerous criminal cases such as murder investigations, in which the victim appears smaller than he or she was in life. By reproducing bodies at a smaller size, forensic scientists are able to examine facial features for possible signs of injury or evidence at crime scenes such as bullet casings that can fit into a gun. This process also serves to shield victims from any possible trauma when examining the body for signs of injury, as the shrunken body would show minimal signs of damage.
This method has been used in various high-profile criminal cases such as the murder of Glenn McDonald, who was murdered in 1989 by his wife Cynthia, who then used this technique to fake her husband's head and claim that he had left home. Members from the Texas Rangers were unaware that this technique had been used and it only surfaced after a former forensic pathologist became concerned about the lack of evidence at this crime scene. By using this method, Cynthia was able to escape prosecution until her own daughter became suspicious of the claims she was making.
Forensics professionals often use extensive technology that can help them in their investigations. For example, a forensic scientist may utilize studies that have gone into establishing the genome or the complete description of human DNA. DNA fingerprinting is one of the best methods to identify individuals based on their genetic information. This technique has been used in various criminal cases such as murder investigations and arson investigations among others because it gives police officers a way to determine if a suspect shares any genetic traits with the victim or victim's family members for identification purposes.
Criminology researchers are professionals that may be involved in the field of forensics in order to determine the efficacy of particular methods or forensic science laboratory techniques to help identify suspects, witnesses, victims and other types of evidence. These professionals are law enforcement officers who have received extensive education and credentials that allow them to analyze various cases from all aspects to determine what has gone on within any given criminal case. By employing the services of this type of professional, police agencies can gain a better understanding of their procedures and how they can incorporate modern technology into their investigations.
This section focuses on various scientific testing methods that are further applied to crime solving as well as how these approaches may help when determining who committed a crime.
Forensic scientists often use the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, in order to determine DNA samples. Developed in the 1980s by Kary Mullis, this exothermic polymerase reaction is responsible for growing a specific piece of DNA. The process starts off with a sample that contains the DNA from both the suspect and victim, as well as genetic markers such as Y-chromosomes that have been discovered by research. Once obtained and purified using techniques such as gel electrophoresis and separation techniques, there are three steps involved in PCR which includes heat denaturation, equilibrium phase and extension phase among others.
The polymerase chain reaction has been used in numerous high profile criminal cases such as the case of Michael Wayne Gilmore, who kidnapped and murdered a two-year-old girl in 1992. Before the testing was available to determine the identity of this suspect, he became a suspect after he was arrested for driving under the influence and other minor offenses and gave police permission to take a DNA sample for investigations. Using this technique, authorities were able to match Gilmore's DNA sample with that found at the crime scene.
Forensic scientists often use serology in order to compare blood types from criminal suspects with those at any given crime scene. Although serology is used in a wide variety of criminal investigations, it was first introduced in Britain during the late 1800s. The first use of this technique was to determine blood types among individuals. With developments in the field, serology has now been used to determine genetic markers such as Y-chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA among others which help to identify individuals in a case where they have been identified as suspects or witnesses.
Forensic scientists often use the drip grid method in order to categorize semen samples based on their origin and whether the sample came from inside or outside the female reproductive system. This forensic technique involves placing a grid on top of the sample, which is then transferred to a Petri dish in order to spread the sample evenly across it. Using this approach, forensic scientists are able to make use of cutting edge tools that can quickly and effectively detect genetic markers from semen samples that do not belong to the victim or known sperm donors.
For example, in the case of Cheryle D. Smith, who was found murdered in 1988 at her home in Florida, law enforcement personnel were only able to recover a small amount of semen from a sheet that had been taken from her bed.
Conclusion
Forensic science directly affects law enforcement in many ways. These professionals are often the first to arrive on the scene of a crime, which allows them to collect evidence that may help solve a case as well as determine what has occurred during a criminal investigation. This approach is vital especially because any type of evidence can be found at every criminal case. However, forensics science isn't always used in the best way possible and may be misused in some instances.
Forensic science is becoming more advanced in almost every aspect and is continually being used for detection and identification purposes, particularly those related to crimes such as mass shootings and serial killers who are known for having committed multiple murders at various locations.