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Forensic scientists work with law
enforcement to locate and identify
corpses at crime scenes and in the wake
of disasters. Forensic teams in the US
and elsewhere typically rely on highly
trained cadaver dogs that are expensive
to maintain. DNA or dental records are
then used to determine a recovered
body’s identity. Although these well-honed
methods are considered the
gold standard, forensic experts
are faced with scenarios
where these conventional
tools are impractical – for
example, when the body
is badly decomposed or
buried by debris. These
new tools are being
developed.
Bug blood-hounds
Forensic scientists use insects to estimate the time of death of recovered corpses,
but researchers have begun to realise they can also be trained to find bodies.
Insects can be cheap and flexible alternatives to cadaver dogs.
Researchers at the
University of Georgia
have trained wasps to
differentiate minute
quantities of putrescine
and cadaverine,
chemicals released
by decaying bodies.
Digital sniffer
Researchers are also seeking to replicate the skills of cadaver dogs by creating
a portable electronic device that is programmed with the chemical profile of
odours released by decaying bodies. A team at Penn State is creating a profile
of the different odours produced as a corpse decays by monitoring euthanised
pigs kept under varying environmental conditions.
They are recording
the types and amounts
of chemicals released
over the course of
three weeks. They
plan to correlate the
chemical profi les with
changes in the phases
of insect activity in
corpses to improve
accuracy in determining
time of death.
Numbered body parts
Decomposition can cause forensic experts to seek alternatives to DNA. When other
methods fail, investigators can match the serial numbers on silicone breast
implants, dental prostheses and titanium hips with records from the manufacturer.
Some dental pieces are even inscribed with the owner's name. |
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