Heather Miller Coyle – författare

The association of a suspect with the victim or crime scene through DNA evidence is one of the most powerful statements of complicity in a crime imaginable. No category of evidence has ever had the complete capacity to convict or exonerate an accused so absolutely in the eyes of the public. With the discriminatory powers of DNA and the variety of DNA markers now in regular use, the one thing keeping a third of all cases unsolved is the lack of human DNA evidence. However, the identification of polymorphic genetic loci in cats, dogs, plants, insects, bacteria, and viruses can provide the critical link between suspect and scene in the absence of human DNA.Non-Human DNA Typing: Theory and Casework Applications provides an introduction to the basic science underlying the emerging field of non-human DNA typing. It examines the use of non-human DNA evidence not just in homicide cases, but also in drug trafficking, poaching of endangered species, livestock fraud, and missing persons, as well as the identification of primary and secondary crime scenes. The book demonstrates the recognition, collection, and preservation of biological evidence at a crime scene, techniques of DNA fingerprinting, and DNA profiling. Using a wide variety of examples, applications, and case studies, the author describes the STR analysis of canine and feline samples, insects, and fungi, and their role as evidence in forensic science. Chapters consider the development of testing methods for animal evidence, soil DNA typing, and the use of DNA typing in wildlife investigations. A useful appendix includes an overview of the history of forensic serology and DNA.Combining science, case examples, legal decisions, and references, Non-Human DNA Typing: Theory and Casework Applications presents the forensic and legal applications of non-human DNA evidence for scientists, law enforcement, and attorneys.

Forensic Botany: Principles and Applications to Criminal Casework, Second Edition updates what, at the time, was the very first book published on the subject. This latest edition offers a concise introduction to plant identification, biology, genetics, and how to utilize and apply botanical evidence in criminal cases.In recent years, forensic botany and the use of various plant and plant‑derived evidence have been increasingly utilized in criminal investigations and court cases. Likewise, forensic palynology and other such terms have entered the vernacular as botanical sciences have widened the applications in which such evidence can help solve cases. This includes the use of current and emergent genetic markers and DNA technology, toxicology, diatoms, and pollen. The numerous advances since the last edition was published necessitated added coverage of the technology and testing capabilities that have achieved new levels as the field has developed.The chapters are written by some of the top experts in the field. Every chapter in the Second Edition is fully updated, with several new chapters focusing on Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), plant‑derived toxins and forensic toxicology, identifying ancient plants used in burial practices for dating sites, digested plants as evidence, and more.Forensic Botany, Second Edition provides scientists working with DNA, trace evidence, and botanical evidence—as well as investigators and legal professionals—with a thorough understanding of the latest advances and current capabilities in utilizing such evidence in investigating and adjudicating criminal cases.