Biochemistry: The Evolution Of Forensic Evidence

The manner in which biochemistry has effected how forensic evidence is analyzed. With biochemistry, as with all science there have been evolutions throughout the years. It brings with it a new way of looking into the world of forensic science. In the nineteenth century a new way of looking at science was literally brought to life as a new breed of microscope was born. This would allow scientists to more easily study the organic molecule that make up life. In the twentieth century, biology made great leaps. The invention of two new microscopes made it easier to see and develop the new realities. The interference contrast microscope was a huge leap in technology. It utilizes light to show the microscopic samples rather than dies which could potentially

With the new technologies, scientists were able to identify and develop the polymerase chain reaction techniques for amplifying DNA. The PCR heats up a strand of DNA until it denatures and then uses an enzyme to make exact copies. The first round, there would be two exact copies and then as the process is repeated, the number of exact copies of the first strand of DNA grows exponentially (PCR Fact Sheet). This is the reason that people must have a background in organic and biochemistry. If a person were to be asked to comprehend this without the knowledge of what denaturing is would be difficult imagine not knowing anything about what DNA is or how its structure is impactful. Biochemistry has changed greatly in the last two hundred years. With the development of new technologies, scientists can go more in depth than ever before. And with the discoveries of new ways of studying, people have more information about DNA and other organic compounds readily available to them than ever

As stated earlier, chemistry is important when dealing with the chemicals used to collect evidence at a crime scene. Such chemicals are phenolphthalein, ninhydrin, and the accelerants found in arson cases. However, these are all current practices that present day people are blessed with. In the past, scientists did not have the technology that has developed in recent years, but despite this there is evidence of forensic practices as far back as the 700’s. In those days it was very rudimentary but yet the Chinese were using fingerprinting to identify art works and papers (New York State Police). Some of what seems to be the most basic forms of forensic science were first documented in the 1800’s such as chemical testing for blood. This would have been when scientists were first starting to connect that perhaps the disciplines could cross and the end result is the glorious fondue that is forensic science. Also in this time period was the first use of toxicology. This is the study of chemicals that could be harmful to living creatures. Most often a toxicology report is done when someone has died and had an autopsy done. The results of this can show some drugs that the person had been on or also any toxins that might have been the cause of their demise. Another data point that toxicologists have to look for is the amount of toxin found in the body. At one level a