Essential Forensic Biology / Edition 2

is an introduction to the application of biology in legal investigations. Fully revised and updated throughout, the second edition of this highly successful textbook offers an accessible overview to the essentials of the subject providing a balanced coverage of the range of organisms used as evidence in forensic investigations; invertebrates, vertebrates, plants and microbes. The book provides an overview of the decay process and discusses the role of forensic indicators – human fluids and tissues, including blood cells, bloodstain pattern analysis, hair, teeth, bones, and wounds. It also examines the study of forensic biology in cases of suspicious death. The coverage of molecular techniques has been expanded throughout with additional material on bioterrorism and wildlife forensics now included. The use of DNA and RNA for the identification of individuals and their personal characteristics is now covered along with a discussion of the ethical issues associated with the maintenance of DNA databases. • Fully revised and updated new edition of this highly successful textbook. • Includes self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter and case studies throughout. • Now in full colour throughout and includes a supplementary website ( ) covering additional material and self-test questions to reinforce student understanding. "The author does an excellent job of demonstrating how biological science can, and does, contribute to legal investigations…" , March 2007) "…a super book …not a book that will languish on library shelves. Buy it!" , Spring 2007) "…naturalists and biologists will find much of interest within these books…new light on the application of their own specialism..." , 2007)