Journal of Clinical Forensic Sciences

Crime scene investigation is a crucial part of any investigation. It is the connecting point of science, logic, and law. The examination of a crime scene is a time consuming and labour intensive process that includes relevant documentation, photography, or videography of the situation or condition at the scene, as well as the position of the evidence. Forensic science principles govern criminal proceedings from the examination of a crime scene to the conviction of an accused in a court of law. Law enforcement created the forensics protocol, a methodical strategy or procedure that must be followed for evidence to be reliable and admissible in court. The goal of this article is to propose a systematic approach for dealing with crime scene evidence in the context of forensic and law enforcement specialists to avoid contamination, deterioration, and loss of (value) evidence

Fingerprinting has played a massive role in establishing the identity of suspects in the legal arena. To help facilitate an accurate matching of two fingerprints, there are three levels of details that experts investigate. On the third level of those details, we see examination of pores and ridge characteristics. Poroscopy is the study of the size, shape, and arrangement of pores. Sweat pores have great individual differences and they are persistent throughout life, which makes them invaluable for individualization in crime scenes. In this review, we can see the evolution of poroscopy and how it can be implemented as a tool for personal identification as proved by various authors in their respective works.

Genetic markers can be defined as the sequence of DNA that has a known physical location on the chromosome. Generally, markers help to link the inherited disease with the responsible gene. In forensics, Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) are most commonly used gold standard markers that consist of repeated 2-10 base pair units. Now days, in paternity cases 20 or more autosomal STR markers are using to establish paternity or other forensic application. It is reported in many cases one or two autosomal markers of the offspring's DNA profile show different alleles which are not present in their parent's DNA profile. This might be possible due to mutation or incest paternity cases. Therefore, to confirm mutation or support to establish paternity in such cases, lineage markers viz. Y-STRs, X-STRs, and Mt. DNA are potential tools. In this article, the characterization and forensic significance of X-STRs in mutated autosomal markers of two paternity cases were discussed. X- STRs of X-chromosomes show their unique pattern of inheritance than other autosomal STRs. The X chromosome is inherited in the offspring from father and mother both. The X chromosome is inherited from mother to daughter and son; and from father to daughter only. X-STR are used to decode genetic structure in respect to the cases like parentage, human identification, kinship, and disease identification. In this paper, significant role of X-chromosomal STR analysis in mutated autosomal STRs especially in paternity cases has been discussed.

In a time when non-invasive and minimally intrusive techniques are ushering in medical advancements and health science technologies, Necrological analysis is not exempt from this trend. Autopsy (post-mortem) is a procedure that involves a thorough examination of the demise observing everything associated to anatomy, surface wounds, histological studies. Virtopsy is a term derived from two words "virtual" and "autopsy." It involves imaging techniques that are regularly used in clinical medicine such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to find the reason for death in the process of autopsy. Virtual autopsy is done with the help of imaging technologies with more sophisticated instruments thus minimizing the mutilation of the dead body. The standard internal autopsy approach involves corpse mutilation methods. Virtopsy is a comprehensive technology that combines forensic medicine pathology, radiology, biomechanics, and physical studies. It is rapidly securing importance in the department of forensics. It holds an abundance in the future of forensics to deliver justice. The review mainly deals with advantages of virtopsy over traditional autopsy.

Heavy metal poisoning is becoming more and more prevalent in current scenario. Among those heavy metals mercury toxicity is mostly reported. Natural and anthropogenic sources were releasing the mercury into the atmosphere and getting deposited in the air, land and on water and causes severe air and water pollution. Mercury exists in three forms, elemental, inorganic and organic form. All the three forms of mercury are toxic in nature. Mercury is used in dental amalgams, thermometers, barometers, vaccines, skin creams, blood pressure monitors, batteries and in other products. Mercury enters into the body through inhalation, ingestion and through the dermal contact. The severity of the mercury poisoning depends upon the route of exposure, quantity of dose intake, and the time period of exposure. If the living organisms exposed for longer duration chronic poisoning occurs. Elimination of mercury from the body occurs through sweat, tears, urine, faeces, and through breast milk. Bio conjugated gold particles, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, mass spectrometry, cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy and miscellaneous methods were used for the detection of mercury. Consumption of sea food and exposing to the products containing mercury causes severe health impacts. Methyl mercury is more toxic in nature it causes severe neurological damage to the infants. This review addresses about how mercury is deposited in the different organ systems and changes occurred in the different organ systems due to mercury poisoning. Mercury causes severe cellular, cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, digestive, renal, endocrine, reproductive and embryonic toxic effects.