Table of Contents

Contents Acknowledgements

Introduction

PART A: HUMAN REMAINS: DECAY, DNA, TISSUES AND FLUIDS

Chapter One: The decay, discovery and recovery of human bodies

The dead body

The stages of decomposition

Factors affecting the speed of decay

Discovery and recovery of human remains

Determining the age and provenance of skeletonized remains

Future developments

Chapter Two: Body fluids and waste products

Blood cells and blood typing

Methods for detecting blood

Confirming the presence of blood

Bloodstain pattern analysis

Artificial blood

Post mortem toxicological analysis of blood

Saliva and semen

Vitreous humor

Faeces and urine as forensic indicators

Future directions

Chapter Three: Molecular biology

The structure of DNA

DNA sampling

DNA profiling

Polymerase chain reaction

Short tandem repeat markers

Single nucleotide polymorphism markers

Determination of ethnicity

Determination of physical appearance

Determination of personality traits

Mobile element insertion polymorphisms

Mitochondrial DNA

RNA

DNA databases

Future developments

Chapter Four: Human tissues

The outer body surface

Hair

Bones

Teeth

Future developments

Chapter Five: Wounds

Definitions

Blunt force injuries

Sharp force traumas

Bone damage

Additional aspects of wound interpretation

Asphyxia

Pathology associated with drug use

Gunshot wounds

Bite marks

Burns and scalds

Ageing of wounds

Post mortem injuries

Future developments

PART B: INVERTEBRATES AND VERTEBRATES

Chapter Six: Invertebrates 1: biological aspects

An introduction to invertebrate biology

Invertebrates as forensic indicators in cases of murder or suspicious death

Invertebrates as a cause of death

Invertebrates as forensic indicators in cases of neglect and animal welfare

The role of invertebrates in food spoilage and hygiene litigation

The illegal trade in invertebrates

Invertebrate identification techniques

Future directions

Chapter Seven: Invertebrates 2: practical aspects

Calculating the PMI/time since infestation from invertebrate development rates

Complicating factors affecting earliest oviposition date calculations

Determination of the PMI using invertebrate species composition

Determination of the PMI using ectoparasites

Determination of movement from invertebrate evidence

Invertebrate evidence in cases of wound myiasis and neglect

Detection of drugs, toxins and other chemicals in invertebrates

Obtaining human/vertebrate DNA evidence from invertebrates

Determining the source and duration of invertebrate infestations of food products

Collecting invertebrates for forensic analysis

Killing and preserving techniques for invertebrates

Future directions

Chapter Eight: Vertebrates

Introduction

Vertebrate scavenging of human corpses

Vertebrates causing death and injury

Neglect and abuse of vertebrates

Vertebrates and drugs

Vertebrates and food hygiene

Illegal trade and killing of protected species of vertebrates

Identification of vertebrates

Future directions

PART C: PROTISTS, FUNGI, PLANTS AND MICROBES

Chapter Nine: Protists, fungi and plants

Introduction

Protists

Fungi

Plants

Plant secondary metabolites as sources of drugs and poisons

Illegal trade in protected plant species

Future directions

Chapter Ten: Bacteria and viruses

Introduction

The role of microorganisms in the decomposition process

Microbial profiles as identification tools

Microbial infections and human behaviour

Microbial infections that can be mistaken for signs of criminal activity

The use of microorganisms in bioterrorism

Future directions

References

Index

About the Author

Dr Alan Gunn, Senior Lecturer; Programme Leader: Biology and Zoology; School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University.

Reviews

"Throughout the book there are many excellent diagrams and charts. The book is also very well illustrated with colour photographs to explain and expound the given subject. The collation of these photographs must have been in itself a mammoth task." ( Rob Jerrard , May 2010) "If it is entomology you are interested in, this is the book for you." ( Australian Biochemist , April 2010) "Gunn presents an introductory textbook on the application of biological science in legal investigations." ( Book News , September 2009)