Forensics
Forensics or forensic science is the application of science to questions which are of
interest to the legal system. For example, forensic pathology is the study of the human
body to determine cause and manner of death. Criminalistics is the application of various
sciences to answer questions relating to examination and comparison of biological
evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence, drugs and firearms. Forensic odontology
is the study of the uniqueness of dentition, and forensic toxicology is the study of drugs
and poisons, and their effects on the human body.
The earliest account of fingerprint use to establish identity was during 7th century China.
According to Soleiman, an arabic merchant, a debtor's fingerprints were affixed to a bill,
which would then be given to the lender. This bill was legally recognized as proof of the
validity of the debt.
The first written account of using medicine and entomology to solve (separate) criminal
cases is attributed to the book Xi Yuan Ji Lu (洗冤集錄, translated as "Collected Cases of
Injustice Rectified"), written in 1248 China by Song Ci (宋慈, 1186-1249). In one of the
accounts, the case of a person murdered with a sickle was solved by a death investigator
who instructed everyone to bring their sickles to one location. Flies, attracted by the smell
of blood, eventually gathered on a single sickle. In light of this, the murderer confessed.
The book also offered advice on how to distinguish between a drowning (water in the
lungs) and strangulation (broken neck cartilage).
The "Eureka" legend of Archimedes (287-212 BC) can also be considered as an early
account of the use of forensic science. In this case, Archimedes was able to prove that a
crown was not made of gold (as it was fraudulently claimed) by its density and buoyancy.
Sherlock Holmes, the fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used forensic
science. Decades later, the comic strip, Dick Tracy also featured the detective using a
considerable number of forensic methods although sometimes the methods were more
fanciful. The popular television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation depicts a
glamorized version of the activities of forensic scientists.
The use of "forensics" used in place of "forensic science" could be considered incorrect;
the term "forensic" is effectively a synonym for "legal" or "related to courts". However, it is
now so closely associated with the scientific field that many dictionaries include the
meaning given here.
Specialities in forensics include:
• Ballistics
• Criminalistics
• Forensic evidence
• Forensic anthropology
• Forensic pathology
• Forensic odontology
• Forensic toxicology
• Canine forensics
• Forensic genetics
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