Forensic ScienceUses multiple science specialties

The main three are:

BiologyChemistry

Medicine

Forensic Science also uses…

PhysicsComputer scienceGeologyPsychology

In Forensic Science…

Forensic scientists examine objects,substances (including blood or drugsamples), chemicals (paints,

explosives,toxins), tissue traces (hair, skin), orimpressions (fingerprints or tidemarks)left at the crime scene. The majority offorensic scientists specialize in onearea of science.

What is Forensic Medicine ?

Forensic medicine isa discipline withinthe medical professionwhich applies theprinciples, techniques andknowledge of medicine(including dentistry,clinical psychology,biology and chemistry) toa legal context.

Forensic Medicine uses….

Evidence collected at acrime scene to uncover suchvital legal information as

1. Cause of death2. Time of death3. Evidence which connects

a suspect to a crime, to a victim, or to the location of crime.

What is the difference between “forensic science” and “forensic medicine?”

Forensic science applies science to law. Itinvolves the application of highly developedtechnologies to uncover scientific evidence ofa crime. Forensic medicine applies medical scienceto legal problems. It is typically involved incases concerning blood relationship, mentalillness, injury, or death resulting fromviolence.

Forensic medicine uses several different types of

techniques

• Autopsy – earliest technique• DNA Typing – most recent technique• Forensic Anthropology• Odontology• Testing blood

Did you know?

Forensic medicine was first used in

the late 1700's in the UnitedKingdom to determine whether adeath was the result of suicide.

What originated as a verysimple inspection of a deceasedperson's body has grown intothe extensive medical field thatwe know as autopsy.

Not only was autopsy thefirst scientific technique used todetermine the cause of death, itwas also the beginning offorensic medicine.

DNA typing/ DNA finger printing

Was introduced in the mid-1980s

First described in 1985 by an Englishgeneticist named Alec Jeffreys

Has revolutionized forensic science and

the ability of law enforcement to matchperpetrators with crime scenes

DNA Typing is used in rape cases and in many other types of cases.

DNA typing can be used to analyzespecimens of many types such as semen,blood, and hair samples of the criminalfound in the victim’s body.

The results can be compared to thedefendant’s genetic makeup and conclusionscan be drawn from the results.

Forensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology isthe application of thescience of physicalanthropology and humanosteology (the study of thehuman skeleton) in a legalsetting, most often incriminal cases where thevictim's remains are moreor less skeletonized.

Forensic Anthropology

A forensic anthropologist

can also assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable.

Some careers in medical forensics include:Forensic PathologistForensic NurseForensic TechniciansForensic AnthropologistMedical Examiner

Forensic pathologists, doctors, nurses, and technicians use medical principles and scientific procedures to analyze the physical evidence associated with criminalinvestigations.

To become a Forensic Pathologist …

It begins with a four year college degree, followedby four years of medical school. 

After medical school, a three to five year residencytraining program in general pathology. 

After completion of the residency program, thepathologist embarks on a one year specialtytraining program in forensic pathology at a medicalexaminer's or coroner's office, usually in a largecity or metropolitan area.

Why would a health care providerwant to work in forensics?

• To discover the cause of a person's death,injury, or disease

• The pursuit of societal justice

• It is an extremely important roles thatrequires a combination of precise scientificknowledge and a sincere desire to protecttheir communities.

What do you need to know about entering into a career in forensic medicine ?

• First, a student should carefully weigh his personal interests and strengths with the requirements of a successful forensic medicine career.

• Forensic healthcare professionals enjoy tedious and complicated scientific procedures, have an affinity for science and math, and possess a strong commitment to creating a safer society through their work.

Obtaining a degree in forensic medicinewill involve intense and advancedstudies of biology, chemistry, physics,and mathematics.

A potential forensic medicine student canprepare by enrolling in as many advancedmath and science courses as his high schooloffers.

Students will thrive in forensic medicine degreeprograms when they have strong foundational skillsin math and science.

What is the job outlook in forensic medicine? According to the U.S. Department of labor, employment opportunities for allbranches of forensics, including forensicmedicine, are expected to grow "much fasterthan the average" during the next ten years.

The Department of Labor projection alsonotes that employment prospects increase asthe level of the degree rises.

Resources

http://www.answers.com/topic/humanskeleton

http://www.degrees.info/online/healthcare/forensic-medicine.html

http://www.worldwidelearn.com/onlineeducation-guide/healthmedical/forensic-medicinemajor.htm

http://www.dna.gov/basics/analysishistory/