Forensic palynology is the study of pollen and powdered minerals, their identification, and where and when they occur, to ascertain that a body or other object was in a certain place at a certain time. For instance, a dead body may be found in a wood, and the clothes may contain pollen that was released after death (the time of death can be determined by forensic entomology), but in a place other than where it was found. That indicates that the body was moved.
Palynology is the term first used by Hyde and Williams (1944) for the collective study of pollen grains and spores.
From the standpoint of forensic studies, this means that when maize and similar types of large and heavy pollen grains are found in samples, small dispersion areas are indicated and greater precision in identifying the source region may be possible.
One of the primary concerns in forensic studies is the potential for misidentification of pollen and the subsequent misinterpretation of the evidence.
Forensicpalynology, or the use of pollen analysis in the solving of crimes, is used by law enforcement agencies around the world.
Palynology is the science that studies contemporary and fossil palynomorphs, including pollen, spores, dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, chitinozoans and scolecodonts, together with particulate organic matter (POM) and kerogen found in sedimentary rocks and sediments.
Palynology is an interdisciplinary science, and is a branch of earth science (geology or geological science) and biological science (biology), particularly plant science (botany).
Feeds |
Contact