Bits and pieces: serology, criminalistics, anthropology and odontology

Abstract

Introduction Many cases are encountered in forensic investigations in which it is necessary to identify human remains. These cases include missing persons identifications, identifying deceased persons from natural disasters, bombings and terrorist actions, identification of passengers from train, motor vehicle and airplane crashes, and identification of victims in criminal matters. In most instances, common methods of identification such as direct facial identification, fingerprint comparisons, identification documents or physical characteristics comparisons suffice. However, there are many situations where anthropological and odontological methods are the only forensic means to identify human skeletal remains. In some other instances the above-mentioned identification methods cannot be used, either because of extensive destruction of the human body, or because appropriate pre-mortem records are unavailable. Under these circumstances, other more indirect methods have to be used to identify the fragments of human remains. These methods include ABO and DNA typing of human bones, tissue and hairs, blood group, isoenzyme and DNA typing of bloodstains, facial reconstruction and microscopical comparison of hairs.