Forensics

By Betha Nasaka
BDS/06/17
Forensic identification
• Identification is the confirmation or the determination of the
victim(s) and perpetrator(s) based on certain physical characteristics.

• Legal certification of an individual’s identity is based on a number of

parameters most of which are centered about the individual’s
appearance and personal effects.
Types of identification
• Positive identifications, traditionally involve a comparison of pre-
and postmortem data which are considered unique to the individual.

• Presumptive identifications, which include visual recognition,

personal effects, do not usually identify unique characteristics of the
individual but rather present a series of general or class
characteristics which may exclude others.
Need for identification
• In living person, cases of amnesia, unconscious, imposters, issue of
identity cards, passports etc. specific ages in penal code infanticide,
criminal responsibility, rape, consent etc.
• In dead person, to give information to surviving relatives, statistical
and legal process, registration of death, discharge of property
investigations etc.
• Skeletonized material
• Intact fresh corpses, decomposed corpses, mutilated and
dismembered corpses.
Data required for identification.
• dental comparisons
• finger prints, palm prints, and footprints,
• DNA identifications
• radiographic superimpositions (vertebrae, cranial structures including frontal
sinuses, pelvic structures, bone trabecular, and prostheses).
• visual recognition
• personal effects
• serology
• Anthropometric data
• medical history
• race, ethnicity, religion
• sex
• body built
• age
• blood group
• Complexion
• Hair
• Eyes
• Congenital and acquired peculiarities
• Teeth and bite marks
Investigation
• Medico legal investigation focuses on the six major questions asked in
any such forensic investigation:
• 1. Who is the victim?
• 2. What are the injuries?
• 3. How were the injuries sustained?
• 4. Where did the injuries occur?
• 5. When did the injuries occur?
• 6. If the injuries were caused by another person, by whom?
Forensic odontology.

• Importance of odontology
• Diagnostic and therapeutic examination and evaluation of injuries.
• The identification of individuals.
• Criminal investigations
• Identification, examination and evaluation of bite marks.
• Age determination.
Techniques used in identification.
• Amino acid racemization studies
• Incremental line and other histology studies.
• Scanning electron microscopy.
• Metal ratio analysis in bone and teeth.
• Serology studies.
• DNA analyses.
Age determinants
• Age estimation in adults
• Racemization of aspartic acid.
• It is accurate method
• Irreversible reaction rapid in living tissue
• With increase in age there is increase in D/L ratio.
• It is high in root dentine.
• Other determinants of age include,
• Amount of attrition
• Deposition of secondary dentine
• Loss of periodontal attachment
• Cemental apposition.
• Root resorption.
• Transparency of root dentine.
• Age estimation in children
• Visual examination
• Radiologically.
Dental structure identification.
• Scanning electron microscopy.
• SEM with EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry)
analysis.
Sorting by metal ratios
• The magnesium/zinc ratio.
• zinc/sodium.
• magnesium/sodium.
• chromium/sodium ratios.
Serological parameters.
• isoelectric focusing electrophoresis
• Sensitive immunoblotting techniques.
• phenotyping alpha-2-HS glycoprotein in serum.
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
Sex determinants
• based largely on tooth size and shape
• Y chromosome in dental pulp
• detection of the Y chromosome using quinacrine and fluorescent
microscopy.
Race determinants
• craniofacial characteristics
• mandible and dentition reflect racial characteristics.
• Tooth size and shape
• form of the palate and the shape of the dental arches
• Skull measurements
• cultural characteristics on teeth
• photographic reconstructions
Features useful in race determination
• skin, hair, skin color, ears, face
• shape, eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips, eye color, chin age, and cheeks.
Forensic odontological databases

• Application in mass disasters

• Bite marks examination
• DNA analysis.
Application in mass disasters
• a pantomorphograph registry.
• CAPMI (Computerized Assisted Postmortem Identification System).
• Current interest in the digitalization of radiographs for teleradiology
and telemedicine purposes.