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Acknowledgements | |
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Introduction | |
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Human Remains: Decay, DNA, Tissues and Fluids | |
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The decay, discovery and recovery of human bodies | |
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The dead body | |
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The stages of decomposition | |
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Factors affecting the speed of decay | |
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Discovery and recovery of human remains | |
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Determining the age and provenance of skeletonized remains | |
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Future developments | |
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Body fluids and waste products | |
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Blood Cells and blood typing | |
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Methods for detecting blood | |
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Confirming the presence of blood | |
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Bloodstain pattern analysis | |
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Artificial blood | |
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Post mortem toxicological analysis of blood | |
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Saliva and semen | |
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Vitreous humor | |
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Faeces and urine as forensic indicators | |
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Future directions | |
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Molecular biology | |
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The structure of DNA | |
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DNA sampling | |
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DNA profiling | |
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Polymerase chain reaction | |
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Short tandem repeat markers | |
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Single nucleotide polymorphism markers | |
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Determination of ethnicity | |
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Determination of physical appearance | |
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Determination of personality traits | |
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Mobile element insertion polymorphisms | |
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Mitochondrial DNA | |
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RNA | |
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DNA databases | |
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Future developments | |
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Human tissues | |
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The outer body surface | |
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Hair | |
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Bones | |
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Teeth | |
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Future developments | |
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Wounds | |
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Definitions | |
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Blunt force injuries | |
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Sharp force traumas | |
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Bone damage | |
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Additional aspects of wound interpretation | |
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Asphyxia | |
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Pathology associated with drug use | |
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Gunshot wounds | |
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Bite marks | |
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Burns and scalds | |
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Ageing of wounds | |
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Post mortem injuries | |
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Future developments | |
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Invertebrates and Vertebrates | |
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Invertebrates 1: biological aspects | |
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An introduction to invertebrate biology | |
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Invertebrates as forensic indicators in cases of murder of suspicious death | |
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Invertebrates as a cause of death | |
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Invertebrates as forensic indicators in cases of neglect and animal welfare | |
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The role of invertebrates in food spoilage and hygiene litigation | |
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The illegal trade in invertebrates | |
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Invertebrate identification techniques | |
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Future directions | |
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Invertebrates 2: practical aspects | |
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Calculating the PMI/time since infestation from invertebrate development rates | |
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Complicating factors affecting earliest oviposition date calculations | |
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Determination of the PMI using invertebrate species composition | |
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Determination of the PMI using ectoparasites | |
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Determination of movement from invertebrate evidence | |
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Invertebrate evidence in cases of wound myiasis and neglect | |
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Detection of drugs, toxins and other chemicals in invertebrates | |
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Obtaining human/vertebrate DNA evidence from invertebrates | |
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Determining the source and duration of invertebrate infestations of food products | |
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Collecting invertebrates for forensic analysis | |
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Killing and preserving techniques for invertebrates | |
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Future directions | |
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Vertebrates | |
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Introduction | |
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Vertebrate scavenging of human corpses | |
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Vertebrates causing death and injury | |
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Neglect and abuse of vertebrates | |
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Vertebrates and drugs | |
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Vertebrates and food hygiene | |
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Illegal trade and killing of protected species of vertebrates | |
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Identification of vertebrates | |
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Future directions | |
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Protists, Fungi, Plants and Microbes | |
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Protists, fungi and plants | |
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Introduction | |
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Protists | |
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Fungi | |
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Plants | |
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Plant secondary metabolites as sources of drugs and poisons | |
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Illegal trade in protected plant species | |
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Future directions | |
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Bacteria and viruses | |
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Introduction | |
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The role of microorganisms in the decomposition process | |
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Microbial profiles as identification tools | |
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Microbial infections and human behaviour | |
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Microbial infections that can be mistaken for signs of criminal activity | |
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The use of microorganisms in bioterrorism | |
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Future directions | |
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References | |
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Index | |