Forensics

Forensics or forensic science is the application of science to questions which are of interestto the legal system. For example, forensic pathology is the study of the human body to determine cause and manner of death.Criminalistics is the application of various sciences to answer questions relating to examination and comparison of biologicalevidence, trace evidence, impression evidence, drugs and firearms. Forensic odontology is the study of the uniqueness ofdentition, and forensic toxicology is the study of drugs and poisons, and their effects on the human body.

Sherlock Holmes , the fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was, in fact, the inspiration forforensic science. Decades later, the comic strip , Dick Tracy also featured the detective using a considerable number of forensicmethods although sometimes the methods were more fanciful. The popular television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation depicts aglamorized version of the activities of forensic scientists.

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Specialities in forensics include:

• Ballistics
• Criminalistics
• Forensic evidence
• Forensic anthropology
• Forensic pathology
• Forensic odontology
• Forensictoxicology
• Canine forensics
• Forensicgenetics
• Computer forensics
• Textileforensics
• Forensic entomology
• Forensic palynology
• Forensic engineering
• Forensic accounting
• Forensic psychiatry
• Questioned documentexamination
• Serology
• Forensic palaeology -- see diplomatics

See also

Individual events , Debate (forensics, as in speech or debate competitions)

Further reading

• Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers. Michael Baden, M.D., former New York City Medical Examiner, andMarion Roach. Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN 0-684-86758-3
• Crime Science: Methods of Forensic Detection. Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer. University Press of Kentucky, 1999. ISBN 0813120918 .