ScienceDaily: Forensic News

Collecting DNA for human rights: How to help while safeguarding privacy

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:50:50 EDT

DNA databases might help identify victims of crime and human trafficking, but how do we safeguard the personal privacy of innocent victims and family members? A new report identifies a number of key challenges to consider as experts develop such programs.

New device can extract human DNA with full genetic data in minutes

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:21:21 EDT

Engineers have created a device that can extract human DNA from fluid samples in a simpler, more efficient and environmentally friendly way than conventional methods.

Researcher reveals new way to safeguard forensic DNA samples against contamination

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:47:47 EDT

DNA evidence is invisible and remarkably easy to transfer, making it possible for a sample to be spilled or even planted on a piece of evidence. Scientists have now developed a solution that permanently marks DNA samples to prevent contamination. Hampikian has used nullomers, the smallest DNA sequences that are absent from nature, to create the DNA bar code.

Engineer working to put more science behind bloodstain pattern analysis

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:39:39 EDT

Scientists are working to put more fluid dynamics behind the bloodstain pattern analysis used at crime scenes. They are developing instruments and methods to produce, study and analyze bloodstains.

Saliva testing predicts aggression in boys

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:21:21 EDT

A new study indicates that a simple saliva test could be an effective tool in predicting violent behavior.

ECG screening for competitive athletes would not prevent sudden death, experts say

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:42:42 EDT

The risk of cardiovascular sudden death was very small and only about 30 percent of the incidence were due to diseases that could be reliably detected by pre-participation screening, even with 12-lead ECGs, according to new research in a US high school athlete population.

First cost-benefit analysis of DNA profiling vindicates 'CSI' fans

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:26:26 EST

The first rigorous analysis of the crime-fighting power of DNA profiling finds substantial evidence of its effectiveness.

Bugs without borders: Researchers track the emergence and global spread of healthcare associated Clostridium difficile

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:25:25 EST

Researchers show that the global epidemic of Clostridium difficile 027/NAP1/BI in the early to mid-2000s was caused by the spread of two different but highly related strains of the bacterium rather than one as was previously thought. The spread and persistence of both epidemics were driven by the acquisition of resistance to a frontline antibiotic.

Study raises concerns over online availability of alternatives to illegal drugs

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:43:43 EST

Recreational drug users may be putting their health at risk by ingesting products containing dangerous and often prohibited substances, purchased legally via the internet.

School shootings garner headlines, but bullying, hate crimes and drug use more common

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:45:45 EST

Statistically, school-age children run a greater risk of being injured or killed by someone they know than from a violent incident at school, but it’s school shootings that draw the most media attention. And more students are victims of bullying, cyber-bullying, gang activity, drug use and hate crimes than acts of violence on school grounds.

New strategy for fingerprint visualization developed

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:49:49 EST

Identifying fingerprints on paper is a commonly used method in police forensic work, but unfortunately it is not easy to make those fingerprints visible. Now, scientists have developed a new approach for making such fingerprints more readily readable.

Bullying has long-term health consequences

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:05:05 EDT

Childhood bullying can lead to long term health consequences, including general and mental health issues, behavioral problems, eating disorders, smoking, alcohol use, and homelessness, a study has found.

Footwear forensics: CSI needs to tread carefully

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:09:09 EDT

A new computer algorithm can analyze the footwear marks left at a crime scene according to clusters of footwear types, makes and tread patterns even if the imprint recorded by crime scene investigators is distorted or only a partial print.

Perpetrator in one-quarter of child sexual abuse cases is a stranger, Swedish study finds

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:04:04 EDT

Child sexual abuse is committed by strangers more than one-quarter of the time. Researchers in Sweden reviewed the records of 196 men who had been convicted of child sexual abuse in Western Sweden. The study also found that only 8 percent of the perpetrators had been referred to a major forensic investigation.

Tying our fate to molecular markings

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:26:26 EDT

A physicist has helped discover that understanding how a chemical mark on our DNA affects gene expression could be as useful to scientists as fingerprints are to police at a crime scene. In a new study, researchers show that variable methylation is predictive of age, gender, stress, cancer and early-life socioeconomic status within a population.

Nurture trumps nature in study of oral bacteria in human twins, study finds

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 17:33:33 EDT

A new long-term study of human twins indicates the makeup of the population of bacteria bathing in their saliva is driven more by environmental factors than heritability.

Cold cases heat up through new approach to identifying remains

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:14:14 EDT

In an effort to identify the thousands of John/Jane Doe cold cases in the United States, scientists have found a multidisciplinary approach to identifying the remains of missing persons. Using "bomb pulse" radiocarbon analysis, combined with recently developed anthropological analysis and forensic DNA techniques, the researchers were able to identify the remains of a missing child 41 years after the discovery of the body.

Every third child incorrectly restrained in cars, study suggests

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:15:15 EDT

Car accidents are the main cause of serious injury and death among children in Norway. A new study shows that 37 per cent of all children under 16 years are incorrectly restrained in the car. 23 per cent of children are so poorly restrained that a collision would have very serious consequences.

Severe pain in sexual assault survivors often not treated

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:11:11 EDT

A majority of sexual assault victims experience severe pain in the early aftermath of the crime but less than a third of these victims receive pain medications, according to research.

Doctor and pharmacy shopping linked to prescription drug overdose deaths, study finds

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:05:05 EDT

A new study has found that doctor and pharmacy shoppers are at a greater risk for drug-related death.

Two viruses link to prostate cancer: High-risk human papilloma virus found with Epstein Barr virus

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:17:17 EDT

New research has revealed that both the human papilloma virus and Epstein Barr virus are present together in more than half of malignant prostate cancers found in Australian men.

Ancient Incan mummy had lung infection, according to novel proteomics analysis

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:03:03 EDT

A 500-year-old frozen Incan mummy suffered from a bacterial lung infection at the time of its death, as revealed by a novel proteomics method that shows evidence of an active pathogenic infection in an ancient sample for the first time.

Sleep deprivation effect on the immune system mirrors physical stress

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:16:16 EDT

Severe sleep loss jolts the immune system into action, reflecting the same type of immediate response shown during exposure to stress, a new study reports. Researchers compared the white blood cell counts of 15 healthy young men under normal and severely sleep-deprived conditions. The greatest changes were seen in the white blood cells known as granulocytes, which showed a loss of day-night rhythmicity, along with increased numbers, particularly at night.

DNA used to identify deceased along Texas-Mexico border

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:49:49 EDT

Baylor professor organizes a field school to a Texas border town to exhume bodies of those that died while crossing the border for the purpose of identification and repatriation to Mexico.

Anthropologists find American heads are getting larger

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:58:58 EDT

Forensic anthropologists examined 1,500 skulls dating back to the mid-1800s through the mid-1980s. They noticed US skulls have become larger, taller and narrower as seen from the front and faces have become significantly narrower and higher.

Forensic scientist tracks the crime scene invaders

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:13:13 EDT

Marks on a dead body could indicate violence and therefore murder. But they might have been made by legions of insects. A forensic scientist has built up data that will be a big aid to detectives faced with investigating gruesome discoveries.

Iceman mummy: 5,000-year-old red blood cells discovered -- oldest blood known to modern science

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:11:11 EDT

His DNA has been decoded; samples from his stomach and intestines have allowed us to reconstruct his very last meal. The circumstances of his violent death appear to have been explained. However, what had, at least thus far, eluded the scientists, was identifying any traces of blood in Ötzi, the 5,000-year-old glacier mummy. Examination of his aorta had yielded no results. Yet recently, a team of scientists from Italy and Germany, using nanotechnology, succeeded in locating red blood cells in Ötzi's wounds, thereby discovering the oldest traces of blood to have been found anywhere in the world.

DNA fingerprinting enters 21st century

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:34:34 EDT

Researchers have created a three-step algorithm, lobSTR, that in one day accurately and simultaneously profiles more than 100,000 short tandem repeats in one human genome sequence -- a feat that previous systems could never complete.

Deep sequencing reveals potentially toxic, trade-restricted ingredients in some traditional Chinese medicines

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:23:23 EDT

Researchers have used new DNA sequencing technology to reveal the animal and plant composition of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Some of the TCM samples tested contained potentially toxic plant ingredients, allergens, and traces of endangered animals.

Foot bones allow researchers to determine sex of skeletal remains

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:51:51 EST

Law enforcement officials who are tasked with identifying a body based on partial skeletal remains have a new tool at their disposal. A new paper from North Carolina State University researchers details how to determine the biological sex of skeletal remains based solely on measurements of the seven tarsal bones in the feet.

Barriers to the use of fingerprint evidence in court is unlocked by statistical model

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:20:20 EST

Fingerprints that are potential key pieces of evidence in court currently are not being considered due to shortcomings in the way this evidence is reported. Now, a statistical model has been developed that enables the weight of fingerprint evidence to be expressed in quantitative terms, paving the way for its full inclusion in the process of identifying criminals, according to a new report.

Unilateral divorce laws caused temporary spike in violent crime

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:39:39 EST

US states that enacted unilateral divorce laws saw substantial increases in violent crime in the years following the reform, according to new research. But the ill-effects of the new laws appear to be largely temporary.

Dangerous choking 'game' prevalent among teens in Texas

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:51:51 EST

Nearly one out of seven college students surveyed at a Texas university has participated in the 'Choking Game,' a dangerous behavior where blood flow is deliberately cut off to the brain in order to achieve a high, according to a new study.

Study maps destructive path from cigarette to emphysema

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:36:36 EST

Scientists described the track the toxic smoke takes through the tissues and how they accomplish their destructive work.

Traditional physical autopsies – not high-tech 'virtopsies' – still the gold standard for determining cause of death, experts claim

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:06:06 EST

TV crime shows like Bones and CSI are quick to explain each death by showing highly detailed scans and video images of victims’ insides. Traditional autopsies, if shown at all, are at best in supporting roles to the high-tech equipment, and usually gloss over the sometimes physically grueling tasks of sawing through skin and bone.

Software for analyzing digital pathology images proving its usefulness

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:38:38 EST

As tissue slides are more routinely digitized to aid interpretation, a software program is proving its utility. In bladder cancer test case, a new software tool separates malignancy from background tissue.

Scientists crack medieval bone code

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:54:54 EST

The existence of brucellosis, an infectious disease still prevalent today, has now been confirmed in ancient skeletal remains.

Pharmacists crucial in plan for terrorist chemical weapons

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:01:01 EST

Terrorist attacks with chemical weapons are a real possibility, according to a new study. Thanks to their extensive knowledge of toxic agents, and how to treat those who have been exposed, pharmacists are an invaluable resource in the event of an actual or potential chemical weapons attack.

Prototype hand-held drug testing device launched

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:58:58 EST

The world's first prototype of a hand-held fingerprint drug testing device has been created by UK technology company Intelligent Fingerprinting.

Digging up clues: Research on buried blow flies to help crime scene investigators

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:58:58 EDT

When investigating a murder, every clue helps. New research sheds light on how -- and whether -- blow flies survive when buried underground during their development. It's an advance that will help forensic investigators understand how long a body may have been left above ground before being buried -- or possibly whether remains were moved from one grave to another.

Tests to catch the makers of dangerous 'legal high' designer drugs

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:17:17 EDT

Urgently needed tests which could help identify the manufacturers of designer 'legal high' drugs are now being developed.

Some youth too immature to stand trial, experts say

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:24:24 EDT

Researchers have found that unlike adults, most children and adolescents who are found incompetent to stand trial are not psychotic; rather, they have cognitive impairments. And, they are often too immature to understand the magnitude of the situation.

Health-based approach may help ID groups at risk of genocide

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:19:19 EDT

Researchers in the U.S. are proposing a health-based approach to identifying groups at high risk of genocide, in a first-of-its-kind attempt to target international efforts to stop these mass killings before they start.

Genetic defect that leaves some without fingerprints: Researchers trace cause to rare mutation

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:42:42 EDT

Adermatoglypia, which leaves some individuals without fingerprints, is an exceedingly rare condition. Now researchers have traced the cause of the condition to a genetic mutation that affects only four documented families in the world. Despite the mutation's scarcity, the research provides unique insights into the most complex biological phenomena, such as the consequences of lacking a single protein.

Source of Haitian cholera outbreak uncovered

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:31:31 EDT

Employing technology that reads the entire DNA code, researchers have pinpointed the source of a cholera outbreak in Haiti that killed more than 6,000 people and sickened 300,000. Using whole genome sequencing, which spells out the billions of chemical bases in DNA, the team of researchers provided the strongest evidence yet that peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is widespread, brought the disease to Haiti.

Researchers track source of Haitian cholera outbreak; Lessons from 2001 anthrax case help pinpoint source of disease

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:48:48 EDT

Employing technology that reads the entire DNA code, researchers have pinpointed the source of a cholera outbreak in Haiti that killed more than 6,000 people and sickened 300,000.

Test for classifying force used in bottle stabbings: New study aids understanding of force required for creating injury

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:59:59 EDT

Engineers in the UK have for the first time created a way of measuring how much force is used during a stabbing using a broken bottle. The advance is expected to have significant implications for legal forensics.

Scientists accurately predict age with saliva sample

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:44:44 EDT

Self-conscious about your age? Careful where you spit. Geneticists now can use saliva to reveal how old you are. The findings suggest a myriad of potential applications, including the development of a new forensic tool for pinpointing a suspect's age in crime-scene investigations.

UK first use of 3-D imaging derived from post-mortem computed tomography imaging in UK trial

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:02:02 EDT

Scientists have used 3D images derived from post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) scans as an aid to demonstrate injuries to a jury for the first time in evidence at a UK trial.

Forensics: Lamps and spectrometers used to age bruises precisely

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:39:39 EDT

Forensic scientists have to rely on their own subjective experience when asked to ascertain the age of contusions. Now, however, researchers in Norway have found a far more objective and precise method, using lamps and spectrometers. From the assembled data the researchers created a model for bruise progression over time which enables them to determine the age of the bruises more reliably. Bruises on children develop differently from on adults. Knowledge within this area could be particularly important in cases of suspected child abuse.

Brain scans appear to show changes associated with violent behavior

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:14:14 EDT

A brain imaging study suggests that men with a history of violent behavior may have greater gray matter volume in certain brain areas, whereas men with a history of substance use disorders may have reduced gray matter volume in other brain areas, according to a new report.

Cystic fibrosis-associated bacteria could help fight back against antibiotic resistance

Fri, 27 May 2011 10:12:12 EDT

A bacteria which infects people with cystic fibrosis could help combat other antibiotic-resistant microbes, according to new research. Scientists have discovered antibiotics from Burkholderia are effective against MRSA and even other cystic fibrosis infecting bacteria.

Medical evidence of torture neglected in Guantánamo Bay detainees, suggests review of records

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:10:10 EDT

Inspection of medical records, case files and legal affidavits provides compelling evidence that medical personnel who treated detainees at Guantanamo Bay failed to inquire and/or document causes of physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed in the detainees, according to a new article.

Human factors/ergonomics research leads to improved bunk bed safety standards

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:15:15 EDT

Ryan was just four years old when he went to sleep on his bunk bed one night and never woke up. His mother found him strangled to death the next morning with his neck caught between the vertical post of his side ladder and mattress.

Forensics: Developing a tool for identification -- even using very degraded DNA samples

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:59:59 EDT

Frequently the only biological material available to identify persons is DNA in a very degraded state. In these cases, the kits usually employed to carry out DNA identifications do not produce accurate results, given that all the DNA is not available. Biochemists have now developed a tool for identifying persons from these small fragments of DNA.

Pharmacogenetics testing offers way to reduce deaths from drug toxicity

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:15:15 EDT

On average, a drug on the market works effectively for only 50% of the people who take it. Would you want to prevent a potential adverse drug effect or even toxicity through a simple test? It's not science fiction, but a reality. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is the study of an individual's variation in DNA sequence related to drug response. The goal is to select the right drug at the right dose, and to avoid adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatment.

DNA stretching: New technique to detect illnesses

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:20:20 EDT

Scientists are making DNA sequences being passed through nanochannels a thousand times thinner than a human hair to the point that they take on the form of diminutive spaghetti. DNA stretching basically consists of the analysis of a single molecule of DNA, after stretching it, measuring its length and analyzing its sequence.

Facial structures of men and women have become more similar over time

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:31:31 EDT

New research shows that they really don't make women like they used to, at least in Spain. The study, which examined hundreds of Spanish and Portuguese skulls spanning four centuries, shows that differences in the craniofacial features of men and women have become less pronounced.

Long-term methadone treatment can affect the brain

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:47:47 EDT

Methadone has been used to treat heroin addicts for nearly 50 years. Yet we have surprisingly incomplete knowledge about possible harmful effects from prolonged use. New research shows that methadone affects the brain and impairs the attention of experimental animals.

Forensics: Overweight people really are big-boned

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:53:53 EDT

One of the blind spots in forensic science, particularly in identifying unknown remains, is the inability of experts to determine how much an individual weighed based on his or her skeleton. New research moves us closer to solving this problem by giving forensic experts valuable insight into what the shape of the femur can tell us about the weight of an individual.