Book description
This book is an introduction to the application of biology in legal
investigations. Fully revised and updated throughout, the second edition
of this highly successful textbook offers an accessible overview to the
essentials of the subject providing a balanced coverage of the range of
organisms used as evidence in forensic investigations; invertebrates,
vertebrates, plants and microbes.
The book provides an overview of the decay process and discusses the
role of forensic indicators - human fluids and tissues, including
blood cells, bloodstain pattern analysis, hair, teeth, bones, and
wounds. It also examines the study of forensic biology in cases of
suspicious death.
The coverage of molecular techniques has been expanded throughout
with additional material on bioterrorism and wildlife forensics now
included. The use of DNA and RNA for the identification of individuals
and their personal characteristics is now covered along with a
discussion of the ethical issues associated with the maintenance of
DNA databases.
• Fully revised and updated new edition of this highly successful textbook.
• Includes self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter and
case studies.
• Now in full colour throughout.
• Includes a supplementary website (www. wileyeurope.
com/college/gunn) covering additional material and self-test
questions to reinforce student understanding.
From the reviews of the first edition:
"The author does an excellent job of demonstrating how
biological science can, and does, contribute to legal
investigations…" THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY
"…a super book …not a book that will languish on library
shelves. Buy it!" JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION
"…naturalists and biologists will find much of interest within
these books…new light on the application of their own
specialism..." THE NATURALIST
"Overall, I give it my highest recommendation. I was unable to
find a single paragraph that was no fascinating, despite being sad
or gruesome at times." E-STREAMS
