2. Edition - January 2009
38.90 Euro
2009. 440 Pages, Softcover
- Textbook -
ISBN-10: 0-470-75803-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-470-75803-8 - John Wiley & Sons








Detailed description
This book is an introduction to the application of biology in legal investigations. Fully revised and updated throughout, the second edition of this highly successful textbook offers an accessible overview to the essentials of the subject providing a balanced coverage of the range of organisms used as evidence in forensic investigations; invertebrates, vertebrates, plants and microbes.

The book provides an overview of the decay process and discusses the role of forensic indicators - human fluids and tissues, including blood cells, bloodstain pattern analysis, hair, teeth, bones, and wounds. It also examines the study of forensic biology in cases of suspicious death.

The coverage of molecular techniques has been expanded throughout with additional material on bioterrorism and wildlife forensics now included. The use of DNA and RNA for the identification of individuals and their personal characteristics is now covered along with a discussion of the ethical issues associated with the maintenance of DNA databases.

* Fully revised and updated new edition of this highly successful textbook.

* Includes self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter and case studies.

* Now in full colour throughout.

* Includes a supplementary website (www.wileyeurope.com/college/gunn) covering additional material and self-test questions to reinforce student understanding.

From the reviews of the first edition:

"The author does an excellent job of demonstrating how biological science can, and does, contribute to legal investigations..." THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY

"...a super book ...not a book that will languish on library shelves. Buy it!" JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION

"...naturalists and biologists will find much of interest within these books...new light on the application of their own specialism..." THE NATURALIST

"Overall, I give it my highest recommendation. I was unable to find a single paragraph that was no fascinating, despite being sad or gruesome at times." E-STREAMS

From the 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