Document Detail


The development and application of a diatom-based quantitative reconstruction technique in forensic science.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16696714     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Diatoms are a group of unicellular algae that have been recorded and classified for over 200 years and have been used in a range of applications in forensic science. We have developed a quantitative diatom-based reconstruction technique to confirm drowning as a cause of death and localize the site of drowning in two recent, high-profile, case studies. In both case studies we collected diatom samples from the local and/or regional area to act as a control in the examination of diatom assemblages associated with lungs and clothing. In Case Study 1 the modern analog technique suggested that all lung and clothing samples have statistically significant similarities to control samples from shallow water habitats. In Case Study 2, the analog matching suggested that the majority of lung samples show a statistically significant relationship to samples from a pond, indicating that this was the drowning medium.
Authors:
Benjamin P Horton; Steve Boreham; Caroline Hillier
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of forensic sciences     Volume:  51     ISSN:  0022-1198     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Forensic Sci.     Publication Date:  2006 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-05-15     Completed Date:  2006-07-20     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375370     Medline TA:  J Forensic Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  643-50     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Sea Level Research Laboratory, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6316, USA. bphorton@sas.upenn.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Clothing
Diatoms / isolation & purification*
Drowning / diagnosis*
Female
Forensic Medicine / methods*
Fresh Water
Humans
Lung / pathology
Male
Species Specificity

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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