The iris of the beholder

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104101628.htm

Recent scientific innovation have shown that the eyes reveal a persons true identidy. A new report by computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) demonstrates that iris recognition algorithms can maintain their accuracy and interoperability with compact images, affirming their potential for large-scale identity management applications such as the federal Personal Identity Verification program, cyber security and counterterrorism. The iris indetification is quickly becoming the new method of IDing people and will most likely take over the fingerprint ID system as it is easier to fake finger prints than Iris ID.

Becoming a Forensic Pathologists' Assistant

This article is related to the field of Forensic Pathology. More specifically, it pertains to becoming a pathologist’s assistant. This may not seem like the riveting job that someone of high potential may be seeking; however, it is surprisingly a very beneficial job economically. A forensic pathologist's assistant aids the medical examiner in obtaining and processing specimens during an autopsy and works in a team under the direct supervision of a forensic pathologist. Many pathologists' assistants have bachelor's or master's degrees though many were also trained on-the-job as laboratory personnel. Forensic Pathologists' assistants aid in autopsies by collecting the medical history of the deceased. They also work with the medical examiner to determine how best to perform the autopsy. Duties may include photographing the body as well as individual organs as the autopsy proceeds. Often, pathology assistants prepare sections of each organ for further testing and processing. They may even take xrays of bodies to determine any current or old injuries. They can also help to collect physical evidence such as fingernail scrapings from the decedent in the case of a suspicious death. Expected salaries in the United States average from $60,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on the area. Demand is anticipated to increase as forensic technology improves.
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Cold Case Is Closed by DNA Match: Green River Killer

During the 1980 and 1990s there was a killer in the Seattle-Tacoma area that was stalking young women, mainly prostitutes. During this time, women were disappearing sometimes every other day, once a month or even one or two a year. The person that was committing these crimes was the “Green River Killer”. The modus operandi of the killer was to rape the victims and strangle them. Gary Ridgway was one of the top suspects for these crimes. The problem was that during this time DNA testing was in its infancy and much was unknown, this and the fact that police did not have a lot of hard evidence on Mr. Ridgway, caused the police to not arrest him.
In 2001 this all changed, scientist brought together the old evidence and used two distinctive tests to reexamine the evidence. The polymerase chain reaction test and the short tandem repeat test, these tests together allowed scientists to replicate enough DNA so that they could find out whose DNA it is. “It was a last-ditch effort,” Dr. Himick, a scientist that worked on the reexamination of the case, said. “We didn’t have a lot to work with, but we went through a lot of evidence again. We rinsed all the fingernails to look for trace evidence and swabbed the ligatures for cellular material. With one girl, we were able to find a few sperm clinging to her pubic hairs.”
Scientists took the DNA samples that they had and analyzed them. They received a sample of Mr. Ridgway’s DNA from a piece of gauze that he had chewed on in 1987. After analysis of the DNA, they saw that there were matches in the DNA to the three victims that they had DNA profiles for. When Gary Ridgway was confronted with the evidence he pleaded guilty and received 48 consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/science/12file-dna.html

Microsoft's Photosynth: A Future Forensic Tool?

http://www.forensicmag.com/newsletters/features/20091111/

This article describes a new technology and how it can potentially be used in forensic science. This technology, called Photosynth and made by Microsoft, is a way to organize photos of a particular object so that they are spatially oriented with respect to one another. This means that you can make a 3D image of something by using the 2D photos that were taken. While it was originally intended as a creative way to present photos, it can have an impact on forensics. First responders, forensic technicians, and investigators can put together a photographic image of the crime scene much easier, and without the need for expensive equipment or complicated software. Also, this technology could be used to get shoeprints without having to take molds. After several pictures are taken and put into the system, a 3D image is made. If this image is reversed, than they have a perfect shoeprint. However, this technology is far from becoming a forensic tool. This is because there is no indicator or accuracy. Also, it has to be put through a a lot of testing and validation before it can ever by used.

DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show

In Israel, scientists have proven that it is now possible to fabricate DNA evidence. They have fabricated blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor of the blood and saliva. As well as that, they have demonstrated that if they had access to a DNA profile in a database, they can construct a sample of DNA to match that profile without needing any tissue from that person. Dr. Frumkin, founder of Nucleix, developed a test to distinguish real DNA samples from fake ones that he hopes to sell to forensics laboratories.
The scientists fabricated DNA samples in two ways. One requires a tiny DNA sample, such as a strand of hair or a drinking cup. They then amplify the sample into a large quantity of DNA using a standard technique called whole genome amplification. One woman had a blood sample taken, which was then centrifuged to remove the white cells, which contain DNA. To the remaining red cells, they added DNA that had been amplified from a man’s hair. Since red cells do not contain DNA, all the genetic material in the blood sample belonged to the man. The other technique relies on DNA profiles, a series of numbers and letters corresponding to variations at 13 spots in a person’s genome. From a pooled sample of many people’s DNA, the scientists cloned tiny DNA samples representing the common variants at each spot. To prepare a DNA sample matching any profile, the scientists mixed the proper samples together.
This test proves if a sample has been fabricated because it relies on the fact that amplified DNA lacks certain molecules that are attached to the DNA at specific points, usually to inactivate genes. Dr. Frumkin’s design has proven to be very helpful and will be of great assistance for forensics scientists.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/science/18dna.html

India's Novel USe of Brain Scans in Courts is Debated

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/world/asia/15brainscan.html?pagewanted=1           

New technology has been released that could possibly revolutionize the forensic world. A program has been invented that takes the lie detector test to a whole new level. This test, a brain scan test, could possibly eliminate lying. The way the test works is, when the crime’s details are recited, the brain lights up in specific regions. The areas that show measurable changes when experiences are relived, their smells and sounds summoned back to consciousness. The inventors of the technology claim the system can distinguish between people’s memories of events they witnessed and between deeds they committed. The Brain Electrical Oscillations Signature test, or BEOS, was developed by Champadi Raman Mukundan, a neuroscientists. So far, this test has yet to be used in the United States but has already been used to convict several criminals in India. The test does however, contain much controversy. Some believe it could transform investigations as much as DNA evidence has but many experts in psychology and neuroscience were troubled that it was used to win a criminal conviction before being validated by any independent study or reported in a respected scientific journal.

            In forensic science, this test could really turn things around because it could be able to help prove a case more so. Many people have their doubts about collected forensic evidence, they believe forensic science has yet to prove itself. With this brain scan test, evidence could be made stronger. Many practice runs have been done with this test and in one particular case, a woman was convicted of the murder of her husband due to the memory section of her brain buzzing when certain events were recounted.

            I am curious to know more about this software and if it could possibly be used in the United States. Polygraph tests are not always reliable for they measure levels of anxiety and a good liar would not feel anxious. This particular test can be beaten by no one for it goes beyond anxiety and into physical, uncontrollable brain movements. It is amazing how far technology has come and the potential for it to grow more in the future.

How to find a missing person using NAMUS database.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are approximately 100,000 missing persons cases active nationally each year. In addition to this, 4,400 bodies are found that are not identifiable. The National Institute of Justice, along with the University of Central Florida and the National Forensic Science Technology Center, have developed a free database to help identify remains and find missing people.Creating the NamUs Database for Forensic Investigation of Missing Persons CasesThe U.S. Department of Justice has combined two databases to create the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). One database is for unidentified deceased persons while the other is for finding missing persons. The two programs work together to cross-reference and ideally, match missing persons cases with unidentified bodies or vice versa.Using the Unidentified Decedents Database to Find Missing PersonsThe Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that of the 4,400 unidentified bodies found annually, 1,000 of them are still not identified after one year. The Unidentified Decedents database offers a way to match these people with missing persons cases. This database was started by the National Association of Medical Examiners and contains information on deceased bodies found without identification. It is designed to be used primarily by law enforcement investigators such as:medical examiners and coroners forensic anthropologists case managers policeIt can also be used by the general public to search for remains that might match a missing person. Information in the Unidentified Decedents database includes:demographic information such as approximate age, gender, race, height, weight year of death location where body was found identifying information such as fingerprints, tattoos, scars, dental impressions clothingSketches or photos are also sometimes available. As of December, 2009, more than 5,900 records were contained in the database.Read more at Suite101: How to Find a Missing Person with NamUs Database: Website Makes it Easier to Search for Lost Relative or Crime Victim http://forensicscience.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_find_a_missing_person_with_namus_database#ixzz0ccEKJiEv

Experimental Validation Tool for Cell Phone Forensics Developed

Cell phones reveal much about our daily communications -- the who, when and what of our calls and texts. A small chip card within most phones, called an identity module, stores this and other data for a subscriber. A subscriber identity module (SIM) accommodates phonebook entries, recently dialed numbers, text messages and cellular carrier information. Forensic examiners use off-the-shelf software tools to extract the data, allowing them to "connect the dots" in a criminal case such as identifying affiliations or detecting mobile phone activity around the time of an event.
But for this information to be used as evidence in court or other formal proceedings, the software tools that forensic teams employ are normally validated to determine suitability for use. Currently, preparing test materials for assessing cell phone tools is labor intensive and may require learning new command languages to perform the process.
They also developed an experimental application, called SIMfill, and a preliminary test dataset that follows the methodology described in the report. SIMfill can be used to automatically upload cell phone data such as phone numbers and text messages to "populate" test SIMs that can then be recovered by forensic cell phone tools. In this way, examiners can use SIMfill as one method to assess the quality of their off-the-shelf tool.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091202091032.htm