Mini Review: The Forensic Value of Heat Shock Proteins

Forensic pathologists are routinely confronted with unclear causes of death or related findings. In some instances, difficulties arise in relation to questions posed by criminal investigators or prosecutors. Such scenarios may include questions about wound vitality or cause of death where typical or landmark findings are difficult to ascertain. In addition to the usual examinations required to clarify unclear causes of death or address specific questions, immunohistochemistry and genetic analyses have become increasingly important techniques in this area since their establishment last century. Since then, many studies have determined the usefulness and significance of immunohistochemical and genetic investigations on cellular structures and proteins. For example, these proteins include heat shock proteins (Hsp), which were first described in 1962 and are so called based on their molecular weight. They predominantly act as molecular chaperones with cytoprotective functions that support cell survival under (sub) lethal conditions. They are expressed in specific cellular compartments and have many divergent functions. Central family members include, Hsp 27, 60, and 70. This mini review investigates recent research on the Hsp family, their application range, respective forensic importance, and current limitations and provides an outlook on possible applications within forensic science.

Forensic Value of Genetic Variants Associated with Anti-Social Behavior

Insanity defense is sometimes invoked in criminal cases, and its demonstration is usually based on a multifactorial contribution of behavioural, clinical, and neurological elements. Neuroradiological evidence of structural alterations in cerebral areas that involve decision-making and moral reasoning is often accepted as a useful tool in these evaluations. On the other hand, the genetic predisposition to anti-social behavior is still controversial. In this paper, we describe two cases of violent crimes committed by young carriers of genetic variants associated with personality disorder; both the defendants claimed to be insane at the time of the crime. We discuss these cases and review the scientific literature regarding the relationship between legal incapacity/predisposition to criminal behavior and genetic mutations. In conclusion, despite some genetic variants being able to influence several cognitive processes (like moral judgement and impulse control), there is currently no evidence that carriers of these mutations are, per se, incapable of intentionally committing crimes.

Mini Review: Forensic Value of Aquaporines

Forensic pathologists are routinely confronted with unclear causes of death or findings. In some scenarios, it can be difficult to answer the specific questions posed by criminal investigators or prosecutors. Such scenarios may include questions about wound vitality or causes of death when typical or landmark findings are difficult to find. In addition to the usual subsequent examinations to clarify unclear causes of death or special questions, immunohistochemical analysis has become increasingly important since its establishment in the early 40s of the 20th century. Since then, numerous studies have been conducted to determine the usefulness and significance of immunohistochemical investigations on various structures and proteins. These proteins include, for example, aquaporins, which belong to the family of water channels. They enable the transport of water and of small molecules, such as glycerol, through biological channels and so far, 13 classes of aquaporins could have been identified in vertebrates. The classic aquaporin channels 1, 2, 4 and 5 are only permeable to water. The aquaporin channels 3, 7, 9, and 10 are also called aquaglycerolporins since they can also transport glycerol. This mini review discusses the immunohistochemical research on aquaporins, their range of applications, and respective forensic importance, their current limitations, and possible further implementations in the future.

Isotopic analysis in teeth of contemporary brazilians with known diet and geolocation and its forensic value for human identification

Dental anthropological data may provide valuable information about an individual's life, including age at death, health, signs of violence, ancestry, diet features, intentional modifications, and geographic origin. These pieces of information may be further detailed by diet and residential mobility estimates provided by isotopic analyses. The use of isotope data in the modern population is strongly dependent on the diverse origin of food supply, thus requiring an updated and location-specific database. In this study, we have analyzed the isotopic ratio of strontium, carbon, and nitrogen in enamel and dentin collagen of third molars individuals from three main cities in Brazil. Besides the isotope data, we have also surveyed their diet in adolescence habits to develop models to be applied for forensic studies in the Brazilian territory. We show that the forensic value of the place of origin estimation based 87Sr/86Sr levels is reduced in these highly urbanized samples. Among the outliers, most individuals are older than the mean age (25.1) or had water from wells in childhood. The sample's diet has a robust C4 presence and mean trophic levels consistent with the declared high frequency of chicken, meat, and dairy products, also compatible with the high consumption of sugar, rice, and beans in the local culture. Individuals with special diets, either by choice or therapeutic needs, were potential outliers among the group. Our results also contribute to the international human tissues isotopic database and can contribute for human identification of Brazilians or foreigners with distinct isotopic signatures.

Recovery of Latent Fingermarks on Metal Part of Motorcycle Submerged in Different Aquatic Environments

Motorcycle theft cases in Malaysia have increased quite significantly with more motorcycles were reported stolen every day. In many cases, criminals had removed the components they only required and disposed the remaining parts into various sources of water. Unfortunately, the evidence recovered underwater was thought not to have forensic value with regards to fingermark recovery. This study aimed to determine the survivability of the latent fingermarks submerged in various water environments. Latent fingermarks were deposited on metal parts of motorcycle and submerged into four aquatic environments; river, lake, mine, and tap water for two weeks with time intervals for collection of 1, 8, 24, 48, 96, 168, and 336 h. Upon recovery, the fingermark samples were developed using Small Particle Reagent (SPR). The developed fingermarks were assessed using Biometric Fingerprint Identification System (BIOFIS). The persistence of fingermarks immersed in tap water was found to last up to more than two weeks. Contrarily, fingermark in other water environments can only survive up to 96 h after being submerged. The fingermarks submerged in the lake appeared to be better preserved as compared to those submerged in the river and mine. The development of underwater fingermarks is still feasible, and identifiable fingermarks can still be recovered at the early submersion period.

Assessing the Forensic Value of DNA Evidence from Y Chromosomes and Mitogenomes

Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA profiles have been used as evidence in courts for decades, yet the problem of evaluating the weight of evidence has not been adequately resolved. Both are lineage markers (inherited from just one parent), which presents different interpretation challenges compared with standard autosomal DNA profiles (inherited from both parents). We review approaches to the evaluation of lineage marker profiles for forensic identification, focussing on the key roles of profile mutation rate and relatedness (extending beyond known relatives). Higher mutation rates imply fewer individuals matching the profile of an alleged contributor, but they will be more closely related. This makes it challenging to evaluate the possibility that one of these matching individuals could be the true source, because relatives may be plausible alternative contributors, and may not be well mixed in the population. These issues reduce the usefulness of profile databases drawn from a broad population: larger populations can have a lower profile relative frequency because of lower relatedness with the alleged contributor. Many evaluation methods do not adequately take account of distant relatedness, but its effects have become more pronounced with the latest generation of high-mutation-rate Y profiles.

Probabilistic Genotyping: A Possible New Legal Avenue to Prevent and Redress Miscarriages of Justice

This chapter delves into the relatively new DNA technique of probabilistic genotyping, which aims to a more precise determination of complex DNA profiles of multiple contributors. It explains the forensic value of this methodology compared to traditional DNA techniques such as Combined Probability of Inclusion (CPI). In particular, this forensic value is demonstrated in light of the reversal of several wrongful convictions in the USA and Europe. Apart from having a potential exculpatory effect, the advance of probabilistic genotyping can also contribute to discerning the real perpetrator of a crime. As a result, this chapter emphasizes the relevance of probabilistic genotyping for both defense lawyers and prosecutors in criminal cases.

Reliability of Postmortem ABO Blood Grouping: A Study of 100 Cases

Blood grouping has been one of the cornerstones for identification of biological materials in forensic investigations. Antigens of the ABO system can be detected even prior to birth. ABO blood groups can also be detected after death for a long period in many body tissues (teeth, bones, etc.). Blood has its own forensic value in many medico-legal issues. The present study looked at a total number of 100 autopsy cases brought for medico-legal investigations in the mortuary of the Department of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Department of Pathology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak (Haryana, India). The blood samples were collected from right ventricle without any anticoagulant. ABO blood grouping was performed by direct haemagglutination technique using monoclonal antisera. Reverse blood grouping was also attempted. Our results showed that ABO blood group antigens can be detected from blood fluid after death, even in decomposed bodies with an estimated post-mortem interval (EPMI) of <85 hours. Our results also show that as post-mortem interval increases beyond a certain limit there is a decrease in antigens on RBCs in the post-mortem blood.

Significance of Recording Dental Morphological Features: An Aid in Personal Identification

Aims: To record selected dental morphological features among students of our medical campus, to correlate type of dental features in males and females and to maintain records of these dental features among the study population as database for personal identification. Methodology: The present cross-sectional survey was carried out among students of Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical Campus, Sangli aged between 18-25 years. The detailed clinical examination was done to record various dental morphological features. Descriptive statistics were employed. Results: Overall, 720 students from the medical, dental and nursing colleges of our medical campus took part in the survey, consisting of 309 (42.91%) males and 411 (57.08%) females. The selected dental features were observed in 13.7% (n=97) of subjects. The most frequent features detected were talon’s cusp & cusp of Carabelli and the least being parastyle, protostylid and fusion. Cusp of Carabelli showed frequent bilateral presence than unilateral. Conclusion: The study findings stipulate an evolutionary reduction in the size of human dentition. The study highlighted the necessity for understanding the forensic value of these dental morphological features and maintenance of dental records as an adjuvant in person identification.

Inspection of the territory of the correctional institution for establishing the places of possible commission of crimes by convicts

The article is devoted to the study of the territory of the correctional institution for establishing the places of possible commission of crimes by convicts and subsequent prevention of the crimes. The study of the situation in the process of investigating penitentiary crimes, has an important forensic value. The study of the environment (situation) of the correctional institution allows you to identify the weak points that contribute to the commission of crimes and act as its condition. Analysis of the practice of investigating crimes, studying materials of criminal cases, accurate and timely execution of the investigator's submissions to eliminate the circumstances that contributed to the commission of crimes will help minimize (and sometimes make impossible) the commission of crimes by convicts. Key words: prevention, correctional institution, crime, convict, situation, territory.