Introduction: Forensic Biology

Forensic science is the accumulation and application of a wide field of combined knowledge borrowed from a large number of scientific disciplines to reveal facts about ambiguous situations pertaining to unexplained occurrence that holds relevance to the legal system of society. One of the most important and nowadays necessary aspects of investigation is scientific investigation implementing forensic science or the practice of scientifically examining physical evidence collected from the scene of a crime or a person of interest in a crime. Forensic biology is the scientific analysis of biological evidence to provide objective information on legal matters. Over the years, the application of scientific methods in the investigation of crime has developed into a full-fledged field of specialization such as forensic biology. Every crime takes place at a certain time at a certain place or places and involves a victim and the person or persons committing the crime. The perpetrator may or may not use a weapon. Depending upon the case circumstances, the biological material is transferred between the scene, the victim, the perpetrator and the weapon. Using technology, forensic biologists collect and analyse biological evidence/material found on clothing, weapons and other surfaces to determine the time and cause of death and other crucial information. Forensic biologists examine blood and other bodily fluids, hair, bones, insects and plant and animal remains to help identify the perpetrator. For example, evidence/items found in a perpetrator’s possession may be linked to a victim. This also applies to the transfer of evidence based on the principles of exchange material theory, also known as Locard’s exchange principle, which theorizes that the cross-transfer of evidence occurs when a perpetrator came in contact with the victim. In addition, forensic biology includes a number of disciplines and a number of principles to analyse different kinds of biological evidence taking advantage of DNA sequencing and other biomolecular techniques. As a result, DNA evidence has been used to help identify perpetrators of crimes and to exonerate innocent people before they become suspects. It is clear that forensic biological technology is here to stay and will continue to help forensic investigations, though it will keep advancing at a rapid pace, necessitating constant updating of relevant information on the part of investigative agencies, forensic professionals and biologists.