This question is for Doctors or anyone involved in forensics.?
85051
It depends.\n\nIf there is any tissue or marrow left you could do a crude DNA analysis and look for X and Y chromosomes.\n\nIf you had some history you could do a bone size/mass analysis. We know that males and females have different growth curves and rates. Looking at the size of the bones, you could determine a number of factors if you started with at lest one bookmark point like date of birth.\n\nIf you look at a cross section of the bone, depending on preservation, there are celluar differences that will help determine this, as well as racial background.\n\nOne nice thing about fiction, is that you can take liberties. Look at the TV Show CSI. Its a hit. But do you really think it is all done that way? DNA analysis takes days not minutes. Most times, the CSi techs are specialized and do only one aspect, like fingerprint analysis, they do not disassemble cars, run simulaions and do fingerprint analysis. So the point is that iwth a good story, the little details are overlooked and forgiven. You could very easily fugde the science and few would notice and of those that did, if the story was decent few would care. Another example, Jurassic Park. It was based on science in concept. Cloning is possible. Amber contains insects with blood from the time of dinosaura. Why not combine the two and clone T-Rex. Sounds good, but it does not mention all the details that make this impossible. But it was a great story, so the reader just doen't even think about it.\nGood luck with your novel.
428390
The University of Tennessee has one of the best forensic anthropology labs around.  It is run by a Dr. Bass.  You may have heard of him, we have a place called the Body Farm here and he is one of the BEST Forensic Anthropologist in the country.  Check out the book DEATH'S ACRE and you will learn alot about him and the Body Farm.
26506
Hi, thats quite a difficult one. \n\nI will tryto give you what i can.\n\nyou can start with wikipedia. Thats because it gives things in the right sequence and then there are a lot of links.\n\nIn general, it describes a term Forensic Chemistry. Forensic chemistry applies the principles of chemistry to law enforcement. Some forensic chemists may deal with explosives or poisons. The bulk of most forensic chemists work is on the analyses of controlled substances. According to federal and state laws an accurate net weight and positive identification of a substance must be obtained before a person can be tried for its possession, distribution or manufacturing. State and local regulations can vary, but in general an analysis must be accomplished based on certain weight criteria. After the weight is obtained the chemist may perform presumptive testing using chemical reagents that cause a color or odor change. The result of the presumptive tests give the chemist clues that guide what type of further testing is required.\n\n\nSee more at :\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_chemistry\n\nYou will find a lot of links here, eg to Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry etc.\n\nSometihng to read here:\nhttp://www.keele.ac.uk/undergraduate/prospectus/2006/forensic.htm\n\nhttp://www.aafs.org/yfsf/newsletter/Sept2001/Goodpaster.html\n\nhttp://www.forensic-science-society.org.uk\n(The official web site of The Forensic Science Society.)\n\nMore useful links at:\nhttp://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/forensic/resources.htm\n\nYou will find links to a few people who you can write to. \nhttp://www.enfsi.org/search?SearchableText=chemistry&Title=&Description=&created%3Adate=1970%2F02%2F01+00%3A00%3A00+GMT&created_usage=range%3Amin&pt_toggle=%23&portal_type%3Alist=Collector&portal_type%3Alist=Collector+Catalog&portal_type%3Alist=Collector+Issue&portal_type%3Alist=Collector+Issue+Transcript&portal_type%3Alist=Collector+Subset&portal_type%3Alist=ContactFolder&portal_type%3Alist=ContentPanels&portal_type%3Alist=ControlTool&portal_type%3Alist=DataGridDemoType&portal_type%3Alist=Discussion+Item&portal_type%3Alist=Document&portal_type%3Alist=DynamicPage&portal_type%3Alist=EUFolder&portal_type%3Alist=Event&portal_type%3Alist=ExFile&portal_type%3Alist=ExtendedEvent&portal_type%3Alist=ExtendedLink&portal_type%3Alist=ExtendedNews&portal_type%3Alist=FAQ&portal_type%3Alist=FAQTheme&portal_type%3Alist=Favorite&portal_type%3Alist=File&portal_type%3Alist=Folder&portal_type%3Alist=GroupSpace&portal_type%3Alist=Image&portal_type%3Alist=Job&portal_type%3Alist=Large+Plone+Folder&portal_type%3Alist=Link&portal_type%3Alist=Member&portal_type%3Alist=MemberDataContainer&portal_type%3Alist=Message&portal_type%3Alist=News+Item&portal_type%3Alist=Newsletter&portal_type%3Alist=NewsletterBTree&portal_type%3Alist=NewsletterReference&portal_type%3Alist=NewsletterTheme&portal_type%3Alist=NewsletterTopic&portal_type%3Alist=Plone+Site&portal_type%3Alist=PloneArticle&portal_type%3Alist=PloneArticleMultiPage&portal_type%3Alist=PloneContactsView&portal_type%3Alist=PressRelease&portal_type%3Alist=PressReview&portal_type%3Alist=SCAuditorium&portal_type%3Alist=SCAuditoriumItem&portal_type%3Alist=Section&portal_type%3Alist=Subscriber&portal_type%3Alist=TempFolder&portal_type%3Alist=Topic&Creator=&submit=Search
578299
Hey, that's cool!! My best friend's nephew just finished his first year of college to be a CSI. The show is what inspired him to become one. She told me the other day that he has 6 or 7 more years to go. \n\nI did a search on the internet for websites about forensic science. Here's the link to my search results. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=ytff1-&p=forensic%20science&ei=UTF-8\n\nStick to your dream and good luck in the future!!
238258
I worked with Dr Steven Greer on the "Disclosure Project".His 4 hour Video of actual testimony with photos...made me a believer. Check it out yourself..See the link below..It blew my mind.  Judge for yourself.
104426
DNA is a good source of evidence for forensic experts, for doctors to identify cancer, recently used for SARS detection, to name a few .\n\nThere are techniques which are used to detect the presence of a specific sequence in a given DNA sample. PCR  or Polymerase Chain Reaction is one of them. here we amplyfy a specific sequence of DNA of interest. if the biological sample contains that DNA sequence then its amplified and can be visualized on a electrophoretic gel. DNA being negativey charged runs on an agorose gel under electric current towards the positive electrode and gets separated based on the size...slower the movement the bulkier the fragment. \n\nforensic experts use this to match DNA samples from site of crime to the suspect. this can also be used in case of paternity disputes, to detect the predisposition of a person to cancer etc etc.\n\nthere are many more techniques which you can search
164506
http://www.law-forensic.com/post_con_dna_1.htm
171097
Forensic science is primarily concerned with the application of scientific principles for the investigation of crime. Using the very latest in technology, forensic scientists convert the clues collected from a crime scene into evidence admissible in a court of law. It is the use or application of science in courts or legal proceedings. This is a challenging and interesting field for those who have are inquisitive and loves adventure. \n\nForensic Science is essentially a crime laboratory-based profession, the course qualifies students to apply their knowledge of science to the investigation of crime. But the expertise of a forensic professional is also used in civil cases for issues like proving the validity of a signature on a will, to a claim of the products liability, to find out whether an industry is complying with environmental rules. \n\nForensic scientists analyze all physical evidence found on a victim on the scene of a crime and compare it to evidence found on a suspect and provide expert testimony in a court of law. The evidences might include traces of blood, saliva, other body fluids, hair, fingerprints, footwear and tyre impressions, explosives, specimens of tissue for poisons, blood and urine for alcohol etc. Their expertise lies in the determination of facts using these evidences. They have to prepare a report of their investigation and appear in the court to give evidence. They work closely with the police to provide scientific evidence that is admissible in the court. \n\nForensic science is not a discipline or branch of science, but is a catch-all for many distinct disciplines.  It is broadly grouped into three: Medical, laboratory and field science. \n\nForensic /career/options/forensic/datamedicine is a broad medical subject which includes forensic pathology, psychiatry, psychology, forensic medicine and odontology (dentistry). Laboratory sciences include chemistry, biology, toxicology, ballistics, fingerprints, questioned documents and marks and impressions. Field sciences include crime scene investigation which incorporates areas such as fire and explosion scenes and clandestine drug laboratories.\n\nEligibility: To take up a masters course in forensic science you need to be a graduate preferably with a first division in Physics, chemistry, zoology, botany, biochemistry, microbiology, B.pharm, BDS or applied science. \nClick here to know more\n\nJob Prospects and Career options : They can find employment with law enforcement agencies, police, legal system and in the investigative services of the government and also private agencies. They can also work as teachers in institutes that conduct courses in this subject. Click here to know more\n\nRemuneration : Remuneration for various state forensics departments would be as per government pay scales. The state department salaries begin around Rs. 4000
910650
This could be linked, but Im not a doctor so I cant say.  it may be worth looking at and reading.\n\nPS I hope it helps.
1026754
I am finishing my minor in forensics this summer. My best advice is to not get behind in studying and take every opportunity that comes your way, ie internships and jobs, they can always help you in the future when getting ou tin the work force
956506
As it's a medical procedure, I think it would be neither. It probably would be investigated though, just to make sure that it was genuinely a medical mishap.
1119929
I am ashamed to say I do not think of it so deeply, but you bring up wonderful points.  It surely is an amazing thing, the human body and the way it works.  I love not only the question but you left us with specifics so we did not just have to uhm blood good... I now have a little more knowledge to add to my trivial pursuit portfolio!!  hehehehe
184504
It was a Brittish scientist and unfortanately I can't remember his name. It was used as evidence the first time in a murder trail in England where two girls were found dead in a path near a field. The new science of Dna helped to prove whom the killer was. I even read the book about the murder investigation and the scientist but me with my middleage brain can not remember it's name either. Maybe someone out there can remember the name of the scientist or the  name of the book. Sorry I could not be of more help. But maybe this will put you on the right track
553464
Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or to a civil action. The use of the term "forensics" in place of "forensic science" could be considered incorrect; the term "forensic" is effectively a synonym for "legal" or "related to courts" (from Latin, it means "before the forum").
106274
University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas.  I know they have an excellent microbiology program.  check it out for forensics.
334763
Aint no such thing as dna fingerprints....There is dna forensic testing and fingerprint analysis....
588373
are you a doctor? or a med student? did anyone see it? :D