Forensic Serology - Crime Scene Blood, Body Fluid, DNA AnalysisForensic serology deals with studying the blood and other bodily fluids that are found at crime scenes. Sometimes this also involves DNA typing as well. Sometimes this is done by a forensic serologist, but other types of professionals can perform this job function as well, including other forensic technicians, biologists, criminalists, toxicologists, medical examiners or professors of related subjects. Forensic serology is a science used to answer a number of different questions when blood is found at a crime scene. The first tests that are done in forensic serology are to determine whether or not something really is blood, and then to determine whether it is human blood. Tests are also done to determine the blood type and Rh factor, and to figure out which antigens and antibodies are present. These new techniques help to determine whether the blood belongs to any particular suspect. Besides the tests done to determine the type of blood, the patterns made by the blood are also important in answering questions about the crime. The blood splatter can be used to figure out angles, directions, and distances for events in the crime seen by experts in forensic serology. Forensic serology can also be used on other bodily fluids as well. By testing the fluids it is possible to determine that a suspect is definitely not the culprit in the crime, and to give an idea of what type of person might have committed the crime. Blood types, antibodies, antigens, and Rh factor can all be used to narrow down who might have been responsible for a crime. Forensic science serology can be used to solve crimes, as we have probably all seen on one of the crime tv shows that are so popular right now. Experts in forensic serology also testify in court to help convict the people responsible for crimes using the evidence they have analyzed from the crime scene. People who work in forensic serology usually have at least a Bachelors degree, and sometimes a Masters degree. Some even have an MD or PhD, but this is less common and usually these are the Chief Serologists. Degree programs in forensic serology include courses such as forensic genetics, forensic immunology, forensic medicine, analysis of DNA, molecular biology, metabolic biochemistry, statistics, serology, biology and chemistry. Once a degree program in forensic serology has been completed, a job can be obtained with law enforcement agencies, crime labs, military services, and medical professions. |