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How many people do you think even know what the term forensic means? Or
how many people know how useful your teeth are in determining your identity if your
body is heavily damaged? What about the fact that you can use something as small as
a fly maggot to determine when, where and sometimes how you died? I highly doubt
you know that almost fIve percent of prisoners have been convicted and are serving
time for a crime they didnt commit? My guess would be not many considering how only
an average of 13,000 people enter this particular line of work a year. Forensic science
is most commonly described as the application of science to legal matters. It refers to
the scientific analysis of evidence collected at crime scenes, like fingerprints, bullets and
tool marks. (Smith, Ruth). Forensics have evolved over time, and there are many
subdivisions that are helpful to find evidence and convict criminals to bring about justice.
Societies most likely used archaic methods of clues and forensics in history.
Scientists have traced fingerprints to all the way back to 700 B.C.E. (The History of
Forensic Science.) Over the years, DNA has been developed and incorporated to help
police solve crimes. Advancements in technology has helped form the modern
techniques of Forensic Science some examples are, the evolution of chemistry, The
Development of Photography as mobile documentation, The Application of Microscope
into The Sciences, and The Advances in the Medical Field concerning collecting data
from autopsies. (The History of Forensic Science.)

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Forensic Science is the application of scientific principles to the analysis of numerous

types of evidence, usually collected from the scene of a crime. (Smith) The first culture
to use Forensic Science at a crime scene were the Chinese. Hsi Duan Ya, meaning
The Washing Away of Wrongs, written in the year 1248 is the first book ever on
Forensics. ("The History of Forensic Science.") Later on, a French policeman developed
a method of taking a picture of a crime scene and taking measurements to solve a
crime. This method was replaced with fingerprinting and by the 20th century, most
countries were relying on fingerprinting alone. (The History of Forensic Science.)
During this time period, the study of criminal science known as criminology, the
forerunner of forensics became extremely popular. (The History of Forensic Science.)
Mathew Orfila, a Spanish Army General, is known as the Father of Toxicology
and is credited with the first use of a Microscope in studying blood stains. ("The History
of Forensic Science.") Alphonse Bertillon developed a method to help identify
individuals by means of head width, foot length and height. However, they soon realized
it was not a successful method. (Smith) In the Nature Magazine from the 80s, Henry
Faulds made an article discussing the using of fingerprints to identify a person. (Smith)
The FBI was established in the U.S. during 1905, while the first crime lab was built 27
years later. In 1948, American Academy of Forensic Science was created. It became

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the leading research foundation in Pathology, Biology, Toxicology, Criminology,

Anthropology and Criminal Psychiatry, helping to push forensic science into the 21st
century. ("The History of Forensic Science.") We now have the resources to recreate
crime scenes and figure out what really happened and committing a crime is a lot more
riskier and very hard to not get caught. (The History of Forensic Science.) A big
determining factor to that was the introduction of DNA Fingerprinting.
In 1892 Juan Vucetich, a Police Official used a bloody fingerprint to determine a
mother killed her two children in Argentina. (Smith) This was one of the earliest
recorded crimes solved by fingerprints. Fingerprinting DNA was introduced in the 1980s
once scientists discovered DNA was unique to an individual. In the 80s DNA profiling
was developed by a British Geneticist known as Sir Alec Jefferys. (Smith) After 1983
DNA Profiling was able to be conducted on degrade and miniscule samples of DNA
thanks to Kary Mullis, who developed the polymerase chain reaction, allowing a wider
range of evidence to be tested. (Smith) By 87 police had began using this technique to
catch criminals. ("DNA Fingerprinting Is Everywhere!") However, since DNA is unique,
they soon figured out it can help prove innocence. In 1989 DNA fingerprinting was
used for the first time to prove a suspects innocence. ("DNA Fingerprinting Is
Everywhere!") DNA Fingerprints have similarities and differences alike to a Fingerprint
on your hand. It is unique to only you unless you have a identical twin. But you cant just
dust for prints with DNA, first a scientist must take the DNA out of a cells nucleus.
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("DNA Fingerprinting Is Everywhere!") Because all of your cells contain the same DNA,
scientists can find its owner through a hair cell, skin cell, even cells that come out of

your saliva. Drinking glasses are one of the more helpful items as scientists can pull
your fingerprints and saliva off the rim (if not recently washed). ("DNA Fingerprinting Is
Everywhere!") By using the saliva on a cigarette, cigar, or beer bottle you have the
power to determine who smoked or drank them. (Smith) A scientist's goal is to analyze
DNA and find out how such a tiny difference can make it unique to you when theres
over 7 billion other people in the world. ("DNA Fingerprinting Is Everywhere!") Forensic
scientists have invented a device called a lab-on-a-chip. It is a small machine about
the size of a Drivers License that you load a DNA sample into on the spot and get an ID
match while at the scene. ("DNA Fingerprinting Is Everywhere!") DNA fingerprinting has
also been used to bring long lost family members back together; such as children lost in
the midst of a war or tragic event. Other ways it brought people together was when
babies were given to another family for fear of not being able to provide for them, and
many other situations. ("DNA Fingerprinting Is Everywhere!") Although DNA
Fingerprinting is the most common method, there are some lesser known methods just
as helpful and equally as mind-blowing.

Forensic Entomologists estimates a portion of tissues and skin to determine the

time of postmortem by using insects. (Byrd) Forensic Entomology is used by removing
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insects that have been feeding, or were reproduced in the body, to determine the time
since their death. (Smith) Time Since Colonization is the process of using insect and
insect larvae to determine a time and place of death. (Byrd) Using this process an

entomologist may or may not approximate the entire postmortem interval. (Byrd) Some
insects are indigenous to certain places in the world. Some insects also prefer being in
homes and/or outside. If larvae from a bug normally found outside is present then that
means the body was most likely moved from its original position. (Byrd)
Wrapping or freezing of the body can be indicated by having bugs who reproduced
outside of their normal time frame. (Byrd) If insects are completely absent from a
corpse, that means that the body was most likely frozen, sealed tightly in a container or
buried deep in the ground. (Byrd) Insects can also help determine if a person has been
put through abuse or rape since usually victims of this crime attract certain bugs if they
were forced to defecate or urinate on themselves. (Byrd) Entomologists can identify
species of insects by looks and feeding habits. They can also use blood feeding insects
to identify a blood samples owner and/or (if recent) they can link a suspect to a victim.
(Byrd) Insects with large appetites can quickly skeletonize a corpse, however such a
thing can be helpful. Toxicological analyses become hard to do after a short period of
time because it drains out of blood and urine. However using insect larvae, it is possible
to identify toxins as they have fed on the deceaseds tissues. (Byrd) But insects arent
the only key factor in determining a cause of death. Pathologists are the big
contributors. An autopsy (derived from the greek word autopsia: to see with ones own
eyes, is also known as a necropsy. Its the examination of a corpse and performed to
determine a cause of death, identify diseases or see if a surgical treatment was
effective. Sometimes it is requested to teach and mentor a student of the field.
(Stppler) They are performed by medical doctors who specialize in determining
wounds and diseases of the deceased. Forensic autopsies are to determine if a death

was an accident, homicide, suicide or natural causes. (Stppler) Medical Examiners can
order an autopsy without consent of kin only if its a suspicious death, and within
jurisdiction, people who were not being treated for known condition, was in medical care
for less than a day and deaths during operations. Otherwise consent must be obtained,
even at hospitals. (Stppler) Next-of-kin can also limit how far an autopsy can be taken.
Although most autopsies consist of examination of brain, chest, and abdomen, it is
possible to do a singular organ. (Stppler) Autopsies begin with an external examination
including height, weight, and identifying marks like scars/tattoos. Afterwards the internal
examination begins by cutting a Y or U-shaped incision from one shoulder to the other
and going down to the pubic bone. You remove the front of the rib cage to expose the
organs protected by it. Afterwards the organs are individually dissected. (Stppler) For
brain removal the scalp is cut from ear to ear by the back of the head and opened to
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expose the skull. Then a vibrating saw is used to cut above the brain for extraction. If
need be the spinal cord can be removed. (Stppler) Once done the organs may be
returned to the body or be kept for teaching purposes. Then the body is sewn closed
and the corpse is sent off to be prepared for a funeral. (Stppler) However, everyday
new techniques are thought of to help solve crimes and it still serves a huge purpose.

Forensic scientists must have a minimum education of a Bachelors degree in a

natural science. (Smith) The purpose of Forensic Science is to identify or individualize
characteristics to link a person with places, objects and other people. (Smith) Analysiss
you usually see include illicit drug tests, biological evidence tests, latent prints, firearms,

footprints, tire marks, tool marks and trace evidence. (Smith) Many Forensic Scientists
go for a Masters degree due to the popularity of competitiveness. Many organizations
such as FBI, DEA and ATF hire Forensic scientists. (Smith)
Many famous cases were solved using forensics.Ted Bundy was convicted of a
murder when he left bite mark on Lisa Levys buttock. He was also convicted of the
murder of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach after fibers were found in his van that matched
her clothing. (criminaljusticeschools.org) Charles Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped and
never returned even after a $50,000 ransom was paid. After his body was found just
down the road of his house, they tracked the ransom money to Bruno Hauptmann, who
had $14,000 of the money in his home. After claiming it wasnt his, they used forensics
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to trace wood used in a ladder to the wood in his attic. (criminaljusticeschools.org)

Between 1979 and 1981, twenty-nine children were strangled to death. After police
heard a splash in the river, they arrested Wayne Williams and using Forensics tracked
thirty types of fiber from victims to his house, cars and even dog. In 82 he was
sentenced to life after being convicted of two other murders. (criminaljusticeschools.org)
Dennis Rader was arrested and sentenced to 9 life terms in prison after confessed to 10
murders. Forensic analysts were able to use deleted data on a Floppy disk to pinpoint
the murders on him. (criminaljusticeschools.org) In 1983 John Joubert, an Air Force
radar technician, was found guilty of the murder of two schoolboys after they matched a
rare rope to one in his car which was enough to get a confession from him.
(criminaljusticeschools.org)

Forensics have evolved over time and there are many subdivisions that are
helpful to find evidence and convict criminals to bring about justice. Throughout history
forensics have greatly evolved and opened doors to a whole new era of science. DNA
fingerprinting is one of the best and most commonly used method so I doubt that
anyone can ever see it being replaced by something new. As long as there are still
humans in the world and insects to feed of them, entomology will forever be a useful
technique. Pathology being the main base of the tower of forensic science will continue
to be used to determine the time and cause of death. Forensic scientists will continue to
expand and become even further advanced in future years to come. Throughout this
research paper I have learned an exceeding amount of knowledge on Forensic Science
and the many sub-divisions it holds inside. I have learned the basics of how an autopsy
is performed and what happens afterwards. I wish that I couldve read into all of the
other fascinating sub-divisions.