Entomology and the forensic scientist: How insects can solve crimes

Forensic entomology, the application of insect biology to criminal investigations, is a powerful tool in forensic science, as yet not fully exploited. Some examples of its use are described to illustrate the importance of this field of biology     

Forensic Palynology as Classroom Inquiry

This activity introduces the science of forensic palynology: the use of microscopic pollen and spores (also called palynomorphs) to solve criminal cases. Plants produce large amounts of pollen or spores during reproductive cycles. Because of their chemical resistance, small size, and morphology, pollen and spores can be used to link individuals or objects to specific locations where the parent plants grow. Students will use a digital pollen database and Google Earth to link pollen trace evidence to a specific crime scene. The methods presented are based on those used in criminal cases and palynological techniques used by forensic scientists. Step-by-step instructions for a hands-on investigation and a case simulation are presented.     

Potential significance of medicinal plants in forensic analysis: A review

Medicinal plants are a two-edged sword that might be exploited as a treatment specific dosage, and as deadly poisonous substances to commit murder or suicide when administered in high doses. Forensic experts can collect traces and residual materials from these toxic medicinal plants at a crime scene as forensic evidence. Further, more investigations need to be deeply implemented to in the future to understand the significance of medicinal plants in forensic investigations to detect these criminal offenses. Additionally, to provides a deep understanding of chemical substances that can impact human life positively or negatively with different doses as well as identifying the optimal or overdose concentrations for either treatments or poisonous effects using recent biotechnological approaches. This review aims to illustrate different contributions and the significance of medicinal plants in the field and further employment in the context of forensic science, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

Pollen

Pollen: Stunning diversity and amazing beauty Particular features of pollen and spore morphology are important characteristics of taxonomic ranks, reflecting evolutionary or phylogenetic relationships. Distinguishing characters include apertures (the germination sites), ornamentation patterns (the sculpturing), manifold variation in exine infrastructure, and pollen or spore dimensions. Palynology serves as a basic science as well as in subdisciplines of applied sciences, for example, aeropalynology, melissopalynology, or forensic palynology, plant systematics, past vegetation, climatology, paleontology, geochronology, biostratigraphy, pollination biology, genetics, or other studies.     

Fungi Identify the Geographic Origin of Dust Samples

There is a long history of archaeologists and forensic scientists using pollen found in a dust sample to identify its geographic origin or history. Such palynological approaches have important limitations as they require time-consuming identification of pollen grains, a priori knowledge of plant species distributions, and a sufficient diversity of pollen types to permit spatial or temporal identification. We demonstrate an alternative approach based on DNA sequencing analyses of the fungal diversity found in dust samples. Using nearly 1,000 dust samples collected from across the continental U.S., our analyses identify up to 40,000 fungal taxa from these samples, many of which exhibit a high degree of geographic endemism. We develop a statistical learning algorithm via discriminant analysis that exploits this geographic endemicity in the fungal diversity to correctly identify samples to within a few hundred kilometers of their geographic origin with high probability. In addition, our statistical approach provides a measure of certainty for each prediction, in contrast with current palynology methods that are almost always based on expert opinion and devoid of statistical inference. Fungal taxa found in dust samples can therefore be used to identify the origin of that dust and, more importantly, we can quantify our degree of certainty that a sample originated in a particular place. This work opens up a new approach to forensic biology that could be used by scientists to identify the origin of dust or soil samples found on objects, clothing, or archaeological artifacts.     

Pollen and spores: Microscopic keys to understanding the earth's biodiversity

The most distinctive feature of planet Earth is that, unlike any other world in this solar system, it is rich in biodiversity. Our own species, which evolved as part of the biosphere that sustains us, has the intelligence and curiosity to explore the world around us and to understand its complexity. Given the environmental challenges that lie ahead we have much to learn by exploring all aspects of biodiversity. One astonishingly informative field of investigation is palynology, the study of the pollen grains and spores of plants. These microscopic, self-contained biological units are surrounded by chemically resistant cell walls with distinctive structures and symmetry. They can provide insights into such fundamental questions as how and when plants first colonised the land or how the earth's vegetation has developed through geological time and on finer time scales. They provide phylogenetic evidence important in plant systematics and model systems for understanding plant development at the cellular level. This short voyage through the microscopic world of pollen grains and spores is a personal account of the interest and importance of these microscopic keys to understanding the earth's biodiversity.     

Microbial Degradation of Forensic Samples of Biological Origin: Potential Threat to Human DNA Typing

Forensic biology is a sub-discipline of biological science with an amalgam of other branches of science used in the criminal justice system. Any nucleated cell/tissue harbouring DNA, either live or dead, can be used as forensic exhibits, a source of investigation through DNA typing. These biological materials of human origin are rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, trace elements as well as water and, thus, provide a virtuous milieu for the growth of microbes. The obstinate microbial growth augments the degradation process and is amplified with the passage of time and improper storage of the biological materials. Degradation of these biological materials carriages a huge challenge in the downstream processes of forensic DNA typing technique, such as short tandem repeats (STR) DNA typing. Microbial degradation yields improper or no PCR amplification, heterozygous peak imbalance, DNA contamination from non-human sources, degradation of DNA by microbial by-products, etc. Consequently, the most precise STR DNA typing technique is nullified and definite opinion can be hardly given with degraded forensic exhibits. Thus, suitable precautionary measures should be taken for proper storage and processing of the biological exhibits to minimize their decaying process by micro-organisms.     

Forensic biology: its past, present and future

Forensic biology has reached an unprecedented prominence with the advent of DNA profiling, which allows the biologist to use microscopic evidence to match a person to a scene of crime. But there's a lot more in the forensic biologist's arsenal. Here we take a brief look at the who, when and how (and a little of the where to) of forensic biology.     

透射电子显微镜(TEM)在孢粉学研究中的应用

透射电子显微镜作为常规的显微镜工具,已被广泛运用于观察研究生物组织超微构造,20世纪60年代开始在生物化石的研究中得到应用,特别是孢粉学,如大孢子、花粉、疑源类等的研究。通过对处理后的化石样品进行超薄切片,可观察到生物组织中保存下来的有机质壁及内含物的显微构造,对孢粉系统分类学及个体发育学的研究有重要的作用。即使是古生代的或更早期的生物样品也有一些保存下来的有价值的组织可供于超微构造的研究,只是样品在进行前期处理及超薄切片过程中会遇到一些技术问题。文章简要阐述这些具体技术问题。     

Microbial traces and their role in forensic science

Forensic microbiology, also known as the microbiology of death, is an emerging branch of science that is still underused in criminal investigations. Some of the cases might be difficult to solve with commonly used forensic methods, and then they become an operational field for microbiological and mycological analyses. The aim of our review is to present significant achievements of selected studies on the thanatomicrobiome (micro-organisms found in the body, organs and fluids after death) and epinecrotic community (micro-organisms found on decaying corpses) that can be used in forensic sciences. Research carried out as a part of the forensic microbiology deals with the thanatomicrobiome and the necrobiome—communities of micro-organisms that live inside and outside of a putrefying corpse. Change of species composition observed in each community is a valuable feature that gives a lot of information related to the crime. It is mainly used in the estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI). In some criminal investigations, such noticeable changes in the microbiome and mycobiome can determine the cause or the actual place of death. The microbial traces found at the crime scene can also provide clear evidence of guilt. Nowadays, identification of micro-organisms isolated from the body or environment is based on metagenome analysis and 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based sequencing for bacteria and ITS rRNA gene amplicon-based sequencing for fungi. Cultivation methods are still in use and seem to be more accurate; however, they require much more time to achieve a final result, which is an unwanted feature in any criminal investigation.     

The challenge of pollen analysis in palaeoenvironmental studies of hominid beds: the record from Sterkfontein caves

The search for pollen in carbonate-rich sediments from the hominid site Sterkfontein has been justified because previous investigations suggested that although pollen contamination is a problem, speleothems (e.g. travertines and stalagmites) are most likely to contain reliable assemblages. The new results confirm that, although they have some potential, most sediment types from the site, even speleothems, are usually not suitable for analysis and that they contain very low concentrations of pollen, if any. The extraction of pollen from them is complicated by the problem of contamination from the modern environment. Such contamination has shown up in many previous investigations at this and similar sites and judging from published literature, its significance has not been fully appreciated. Cave palynology can be a very valuable tool in palaeoenvironmental research but the caveats associated with palynology of different sediment types especially carbonate impregnated sediments must be emphasized.     

Improving human forensics through advances in genetics, genomics and molecular biology

Forensic DNA profiling currently allows the identification of persons already known to investigating authorities. Recent advances have produced new types of genetic markers with the potential to overcome some important limitations of current DNA profiling methods. Moreover, other developments are enabling completely new kinds of forensically relevant information to be extracted from biological samples. These include new molecular approaches for finding individuals previously unknown to investigators, and new molecular methods to support links between forensic sample donors and criminal acts. Such advances in genetics, genomics and molecular biology are likely to improve human forensic case work in the near future.     

基于文献计量学的近30年(1990-2020)第四纪孢粉学研究现状与展望

第四纪孢粉学利用现代和化石孢粉重建第四纪古植被、古气候和古环境,属于可持续发展的前沿学科领域。本文基于CiteSpace软件数据可视化和计量分析模块,以CNKI (中国知网)数据库与Web of Science核心数据库中1990–2020年间的共计6081篇第四纪孢粉学相关文献为基础,梳理了近30年来第四纪孢粉学的过去和现在,并探讨了未来发展趋势。研究结果表明,近30年第四纪孢粉学领域发文量呈增加趋势,中国的总发文量和国际影响力整体呈增长趋势;第四纪孢粉学研究主要集中于各大高校和科研院所,研究成果有明显的聚集性;中国科学院是外文发文量最多的国际机构。第四纪孢粉学近30年的研究主要涉及古植物学、古地理学、古生态学和古气候学等领域,古植被、古气候、古环境的定性和定量重建一直是国内外学者关注和研究的重点。表土花粉研究、花粉与人类活动、亚洲季风演变和孢粉分类学是近几年发刊的热点。虽然一些关键词如花粉产量、代表性以及现代花粉与植被和气候的定量关系等出现频次低,但对第四纪孢粉学十分重要。未来还需要进一步加强湖泊表层沉积物的花粉研究,探讨花粉与植被、气候的定量关系,为准确解译化石花粉提供坚实基础。...     

Forensic DNA phenotyping in Europe: views “on the ground” from those who have a professional stake in the technology

Forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) is an emerging technology that seeks to make probabilistic inferences regarding a person’s observable characteristics (“phenotype”) from DNA. The aim is to aid criminal investigations by helping to identify unknown suspected perpetrators, or to help with non-criminal missing persons cases. Here we provide results from the analysis of 36 interviews with those who have a professional stake in FDP, including forensic scientists, police officers, lawyers, government agencies and social scientists. Located in eight EU countries, these individuals were asked for their views on the benefits and problems associated with the prospective use of FDP. While all interviewees distinguished between those phenotypic tests perceived to either raise ethical, social or political concerns from those tests viewed as less ethically and socially problematic, there was wide variation regarding the criteria they used to make this distinction. We discuss the implications of this in terms of responsible technology development.     

Police epistemic culture and boundary work with judicial authorities and forensic scientists: the case of transnational DNA data exchange in the EU

The exchange of forensic DNA data is seen as an increasingly important tool in criminal investigations into organised crime, control strategies and counter-terrorism measures. On the basis of a set of interviews with police professionals involved in the transnational exchange of DNA data between EU countries, this paper examines how forensic DNA evidence is given meaning within the various different ways of constructing a police epistemic culture, it is, a set of shared values concerning valid knowledge and practices normatively considered adequate and legitimate. The police epistemic culture is fuelled by multiple dynamics of boundary work, revealing how police professionals involved in international cooperation (i) define their specific core activities and competencies; (ii) construct particular understandings of valid knowledge and how it should be produced; (iii) enact the police epistemic culture in contrast to the epistemic cultures of the judicial authorities and forensic scientists.     

Forensic social anthropology: an Australian perspective

If forensic physical anthropology is the science of biological processes and related medico-legal investigations, then forensic social anthropology is the science of cultural processes and related socio-legal investigations. This article lays out the terms, definitions, and application of forensic specialization in social anthropology as it is practised in Australia. The objective of this exercise is to equip both physical and social anthropologists with a consilient model for the joint engagement of their parent discipline in legal proceedings where cultural processes are deemed relevant by a court or other legally empowered body. As demonstrated in Australia, the potential applications of forensic social anthropology range across a variety of matters involving both civil and criminal investigation. Such matters include systematic land expropriation, child removal, forced population movement, modern-day slavery, unlawful detention, and other important social phenomena. The questionable legality of these kinds of phenomena is not isolated to Australia but is, rather, of international significance.     

案例教学法在法医病理学国家精品课程教学中的应用

精品课程是国家教育部关于高等学校教学质量和教学改革工程的重要内容,是衡量高等学校教学质量和人才培养质量的标杆之一,精品课程建设在高等医学教学工作中具有重要的地位。法医病理学是一门应用学科,是法医学专业的主干课程,法医病理学教材中部分内容单调、枯燥,在教学中紧靠教材上知识,很难调动起学生的热情。传统教学方法虽然可以系统讲解基本理论知识,但属灌输式教学,不利于发挥学生的主观能动性和培养学生的思维。采用案例教学法,以学生为中心,理论联系实践,提高学生分析问题和解决问题的能力,有组于学生实践能力的培养,提高了法医病理学教学质量,值得推广及应用。     

Reconstructing Earth's Past Climates: The Hidden Secrets of Pollen

Palynology is the study of fossil pollen and spores, and these tiny grains can provide fundamental information about past climates on Earth. Among their many unique and useful properties, pollen and spores are composed of some of the most chemically resistant organic compounds found in nature. They are also produced in vast quantities and are unique to the specific plant from which they originate. All these features make them ideal to reconstruct past climates from both recent history as well as from the ancient past. The purpose of this activity is to get students familiar with palynology and how scientists study climate change. It is based on real palynological data acquired from Antarctic cores obtained recently from the ANDRILL and SHALDRIL drilling campaigns. In order for students to understand this research and its importance, they will separate and identify pollen and spores from a simulated core sample in which different species of plants are represented as different colors of glitter. Students will compare the types and abundance of pollen and spores found in each layer of the core sample and research the climate preferences of the types of plants recovered in order to reconstruct the past climates of Antarctica.     

突发性公共卫生事件中法医工作者的角色探究

突发性公共卫生事件已经成为当前人类社会面临的一项重大难题和挑战。在应对和处置各类突发性公共卫生事件法医工作者被社会和国家赋予了重要的义务和责任。本文对法医工作者在解决各类突发性公共卫生事件中的角色定位进行了探讨,阐明法医工作者在应对和处置突发性公共卫生事件中发挥的重要作用。同时,针对现在和未来突发性公共卫生事件的发生发展趋势,对法医工作者在应对和处置这些事件中的角色作用提出了展望,并对法医工作者如何来提高自身的综合业务能力和素质,以便更好地来扮演好在突发性公共卫生事件中的角色。