Forensic science is adopting technological advances for the detection of crime.
FREMONT, CA: Next-generation forensics is an emerging term used to refer to the industry's adoption of upcoming methodologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), next-generation mass spectrometry techniques, and instrumentation for crucial detection of various parameters. With the application of these techniques and tools, the field of forensic investigation is undergoing continuous development and improvement.
Let us know the latest breakthroughs in forensic science.
Preserving bone proteins
The information stored in bone protein helps detect the time of death and the age of the deceased. However, burial circumstances often hinder determining these details, which blocks the potential application of molecular technologies to forensic science.
By comparing the bone proteomes of excavated people from tombs and the burial ground, researchers found that some proteins do not change even in the burial environment.
Viewing fingerprints
Criminal investigations involve analyzing latent fingerprints found at crime scenes. However, present methods have their limits, including low contrast, low sensitivity, and high toxicity. Cutting-edge innovations have developed fluorescent dot powders applied to get fingerprints.
The power of proteomes for forensic science
Researchers rely on proteins found in bone, blood, and other biological samples for deriving various information. For example, unlike DNA, a person's protein complement (or proteome) changes with time, providing essential details about the person’s age and time of death.
Hand-held device to instantly detect compounds
Previously scientists have developed a “MasSpec Pen,” a user-friendly, hand-held device enabled with a mass spectrometer for studying molecular profiles in biological samples. Further innovations for this technology involve the abrupt detection and measurement of compounds, such as cocaine, oxycodone, and explosives.
The significance of modern forensic technologies is that they help distinguish trace elements and organic matter down to the level of a few hundred molecules. These new technologies make it easier to discover, convict, and, if done carefully, justify innocence.
