Forensics Research Roundup

SQ WINTER INSIDER 2020

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY CORLY HUANG

Research Roundup: Forensics

Curated by SQ Research Editors and Executive Staff

Breaking Bad Blood: Tracing Victim Age by Forensic Spectroscopy

Following a crime, scientists carry out different tests to collect evidence and infer what occurred. However, many of these often cannot be performed at the scene, produce unreliable results, and/or take a long time–the last being extremely important in following a fresh trail. Among these tests is blood spatter analysis, which has traditionally been used to determine the details of a crime, such as the force of a blow or the angle of attack. Recently, scientists at the University of Albany, State University of New York have developed a new type of blood spatter analysis that uses light radiation to help determine the age group of the victim or suspect. The proportion or distinct proteins in blood produces a distinct signature that differs across age groups. In only a few hours, this technique can contribute data on age to help form a more complete physical trait profile. While for now this experiment acts a proof-of-concept, one day this technique may be further developed and help investigators track down the culprits in a shorter time-frame.

Paper: Differentiating Donor Age Groups Based on Raman Spectroscopy of Bloodstain for Forensic Purposes

Authors: Doty KC, Lednev IK

Journal: ACS Central Science

RhiNo Getting Away: Fighting Poaching by Genetically Matching Ivory

Increased hunting has decimated the population of black and white African rhinoceros over the last two centuries. Despite legal efforts, trade of rhino tusks on the black market continues– as a result, wildlife specialists and genetic scientists have teamed up to track down those responsible. With the help of law enforcement, a genetic database known as the Rhinoceros DNA Index System has been developed to trace poaching evidence to individual rhinos. By analyzing the frequency of repetitive DNA nucleotide sequences in confiscated rhino tusks and tissue, scientists can identify forensic matches and trace the underground distribution and sale of rhino ivory back to the poaching of the animal itself. As a result, scores of rhino poaching cases have been solved in South Africa, where rhinoceros poaching is rife, adding forensics to the arsenal of tools used in combating crimes against wildlife.

Paper: Robust forensic matching of confiscated horns to individual poached African rhinoceros

Authors: Harper C et al.

Journal: Current Biology

A Blast from the Past: Shedding Light on Ancient Injury

In the early 1940s, while exploring a Transylvanian cave, archaeologists discovered the skull of a man who lived approximately 33,000 years ago. Two fractures were found in the skull, and for decades, researchers have wondered what might have caused them–was it a bludgeoning, or did the damage occur after death? Using modern forensic methods, scientists from the University of Crete may have solved this cold case. By employing computed tomography, a technique that uses X-rays to create cross-sections of an object that can then be used to make a virtual 3D reconstruction, they were able to see new details such as a rounded wound site, a pattern of fractures associated with assault, and remnant bone chips. These characteristics are only present if soft tissue existed at the time of injury, allowing the researchers to determine that the injuries occurred before death. The results suggest a club-like tool ultimately dealt the fatal blows–a morbid snapshot of a violent incident during the Upper Paleolithic period. In effect, the findings garnered by this grisly episode of prehistoric violence are testament to the utility of forensics in solving modern crimes by means of historical patterns.

Paper: State of the art forensic techniques reveal evidence of interpersonal violence ca. 30,000 years ago

Authors: Kranioti EF, Grigorescu D, Havarti K

Journal: PLOS One

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