Tuesday, December 16, 2008
"Vitreous Humor in the Eye Helps to Establish Time of Death
Just recently, a team of researchers from the University of Santiago Compostela has discovered that by analyzing several substances from the vitreous humour, forensic scientists can calculate the approximate time of death. Located in the eye, the vitreous humour contains potassium, urea, and hypoxantine concentrations. By analyzing these substances digitally through a specific computer software program, the post mortem interval is revealed and scientists can then determine the estimation of a corpses' time of death. By inserting each concentration of the three substances in, addition to the cause of death, into the software program, results are displayed graphically on the computer screen allowing scientists to draw up a quick and accurate estimation of the time of death. This new method supplies forensic pathologists with a new quick and easy tool to use upon drawing up their estimations and will thereby prove beneficial to court systems and police personnel in solving complex criminal investigations.
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2 comments:
This was a good summary because I had no knowledge of the process prior to reading this, it was well explained, and it was succinctly summarized. However, I would have liked more information on why the vitreous humour is important, as well as how they discovered this T.O.D. method. That being said, it was very intriguing to know that fluid surrounding the eye can help answer questions about death.
Nice summary keith, it was a very interesting article. It is intertesing that this method could be compared to other methods we have already learned such as algor mortis. It would be nice to know a little bit more about the functions of the vitreous humor, but nonetheless it was very intriguing compared to other time of death methods.
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