Biochemical techniques in forensic science

Abstract

Forensic Science may be defined as the investigation of crime using scientific techniques to examine material assodated with an incident, either suspected or known to contravene the Law. It often involves comparative analysis of material found at a crime scene (or associated with a victim) with items from a suspect. Offences against the person, such as murder, rape and assault, make up much of the work of a large forensic science laboratory. Often this involves a comparative analysis, for example, in matching the blood on a weapon or on a suspect's clothes with that of the victim., Serological and biochemical techniques are widely used for this and are the subject of this article. Toxicology departments in forensic science laboratories also use 'biochemical techniques' such as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), radioimmunoassay and organic mass spectrometry, but they will not be considered here. The examination of trace amounts of oiological materials in forensic science falls into three distinct parts: identification, discrimination and communication. Communication of results in comprehensible terms, and in a neutral and impartial manner, to a lay jury in Court is not considered here; suffice to say that it is every bit as important as the two experimental procedures which precede it.