DNA is used to obtain information about an individual’s identity from all types of materials to aid in investigations from missing persons to homicides. But what goes into how we get the DNA from sources found at a crime scene into generating a DNA profile? Continue reading Behind the Scenes: DNA Processing
Researchers from the University at Albany construct a model that can be used to identify different species of blowflies. Continue reading Identifying forensic science’s “first responder”, the blowfly
Pharmaceutical companies are rolling out “tamper-resistant” medicines- but how do their claims stack up to reality? Continue reading Breaking the Bad: can medical companies prevent criminals from making drugs?
Private sector scientists working for Real-Time Analyzers, Inc (RTA) explore the possibility of enhancing the signal of cocaine to forensically relevant levels using gold nanoparticles. Continue reading Augmenting Cocaine Signals with Gold
There are many ways to separate a mixture of powder drugs – but magnetic levitation? Continue reading Using the power of magnets to separate drug powders
Biochemists optimize direct PCR to cut down on sample manipulation and preparation time, obtaining full profiles with minimal effort. Continue reading Just a “Touch” of DNA Gives Full Identification of Skin Cell Donor
Researchers from Eulji University in South Korea explore a way of ascertaining when a crime occurred by developing a method that can determine the age of a bloodstain. Continue reading Bloody Clocks Do Tell Time
Researchers as Oklahoma State University and the ATF show that setting a meth lab aflame does not cover the perpetrator’s tracks; both accelerant and drug evidence can be recovered and identified. Continue reading Arson can’t keep us down: identifying meth amidst a fire scene
Researchers explore the possibility of using ultraviolet light to detect cocaine in saliva, without pre-treating the sample. Continue reading The Case for the Detection of Cocaine in Saliva
Researchers at the University at Albany have determined how to track changes in blood stains to determine their age using Raman spectroscopy. Continue reading How can blood tell us when a crime happened?
