Even identical twins – who have the same DNA sequence and tend to share a very similar appearance – have slightly different fingerprints. That's because fingerprints are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors during development in the womb.

To register, please visit: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F… Free hands-on practicals on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Workshop 3-Day Intensive Training – Ion Torrent S5 Platform (by ThermoFisher and SAMRC, Pretoria, South Africa) @CraigKinnear2 @MRCza @thermofisher

During IAFS 2026 at Sofia, Bulgaria, NFSU had put up a booth where top experts from IAFS, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, African Forensic Sciences Academy, Asian Forensic Sciences Network and other visitors were apprised about NFSU's unique programs and shown innovations.

Sex estimation is determined by examining skeletal features, especially the pelvis and skull. The female pelvis is generally wider with a broader subpubic angle, while the male pelvis is narrower and more robust. Male skulls typically have more prominent brow ridges, mastoid processes, and nuchal crests, whereas female skulls tend to be smoother and less robust. Among skeletal elements, the pelvis provides the most accurate estimation of sex when well preserved.

No evidence. No case. No justice. At last week's #CCPCJ35, UNODC demonstrated how crime scene investigators identify & preserve evidence. UNODC helps countries strengthen forensic capacities and the use of scientific evidence in criminal investigations to support justice.

Drowning is often regarded as a diagnosis of exclusion in forensic pathology because no single postmortem finding can conclusively establish drowning as the cause of death. Consequently, a comprehensive death investigation—including detailed scene examination, autopsy findings, toxicological analysis, histopathology, and other relevant laboratory tests—is required to exclude alternative causes of death and support the conclusion that drowning was responsible for the fatality.#forensics #csi #deathinvestigation #forensicpathology #ForensicEvidence

The most commonly misinterpreted postmortem artifacts are livor mortis mistaken for bruising, skin slippage mistaken for burns, purge fluid mistaken for hemorrhage, and postmortem clots mistaken for thrombi. Careful examination and tissue sampling usually resolve these distinctions. #forensicpathology #autopsy #forensics

Important Forensic Considerations during autopsy of a suspected gunshot victim: Bullets recovered from bone should be removed carefully because bone contact can create marks useful for trajectory reconstruction. Clothing associated with gunshot wounds should be preserved separately for examination of gunshot residue, bullet holes, and trajectory. Any bullet fragments recovered should also be collected and packaged individually.#ForensicBallistics #ForensicPathology #ForensicEvidence #Autopsy #Justice

Fake passports and identity documents can help criminals cross borders, avoid detection and commit crimes. At #CCPCJ35, UNODC experts demonstrate how experts spot fraudulent documents and uncover signs of tampering.

In a biocrime investigation, a recovered bacterial sample can be analyzed by modeling its virulence proteins and comparing their 3D structures with those of known reference strains. Differences and similarities in protein structure, especially those caused by unique mutations, may help determine how closely related the unknown strain is to known sources. When combined with genomic and epidemiological evidence, this structural comparison can support investigations aimed at identifying the possible origin of the organism.#MicrobialForensics #Bioterrorism #ForensicEvidence

If investigators recover a hair with a root attached from a victim's clothing, they may obtain a full nuclear DNA profile and compare it directly with a suspect. If only a hair shaft is recovered, forensic scientists may perform microscopic examination and mitochondrial DNA analysis, but the evidential value is generally lower than that of a hair with an intact root.

Through careful forensic examination, it may be possible to estimate the victim’s position at the time the fluids were deposited, for example whether the victim was standing, sitting, lying in a supine position, prone position, or lying on the left or right side. Such findings assist investigators in reconstructing events at the crime scene and determining whether the body was moved after death.#CSI #Forensics

Forensic scientists often collect bone marrow or compact bone powder from long bones because these materials are more likely to yield high-quality DNA profiles suitable for human identification. Among all long bones, the femur is frequently preferred because of its large size, thick cortical structure, and spacious marrow cavity, all of which improve the chances of successful DNA recovery.#Forensics #DVI

Ai is shifting forensics from expert opinion to measurable, reproducible evidence The nuance though:AI handles the measurement.The forensic scientist still handles the meaning😃 AI: 3 stains intersect at a point 1.4 above the floor Scientist: now has to decide if that fits the assault,the fall,or the staged scene Because forensic testimony has never really been about measurement. It's been about narrative coherence under adversarial scrutiny. A stain at 1.4m means nothing until it's placed inside a story that has to hold against cross-examination, against alternative hypotheses, against a jury's intuition.#Forensics #CSI #Evidence #Justice

Nearly every country is implicated in illicit wildlife trade. DNA profiling helps trace illicit wildlife, forest & fisheries products & link them to trafficking networks. UNODC supports countries in improving forensic capacity & targeted casework to secure justice.

Ever wondered if #AI can more accurately analyze *BloodstainPatterns than human analysts? Participants were asked to classify 40 test bloodstain pattern images of wipes and 20 swipes. Learn who was more accurate in recent #JFS article: doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70…

The forensic value of exhumation depends largely on the burial interval, as prolonged burial increases decomposition and loss of soft tissues, reducing available evidence. Nevertheless, exhumation may still yield important medico-legal findings years after death. In suspected poisoning cases, detection depends on the stability of the poison. Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and thallium are highly preservable and may remain detectable in bones, hair, nails, teeth, and surrounding soil for many years. In contrast, volatile or unstable poisons may degrade over time due to decomposition and environmental factors, making their identification difficult after prolonged burial.#forensicscience #forensictoxicology #forensicpathology #forensicevidence #justice

A drowning scene investigation combines careful scene documentation, body recovery, forensic pathology, toxicology, entomology, and environmental analysis to determine the cause of death, estimate the time spent in water, and establish whether foul play was involved.#Forensics #CSI #ForensicEvidence

In forensic and archaeological practice, there is an important balance between obtaining the maximum possible DNA and preserving the structural and evidentiary integrity of the remains. Why Preservation Matters? Human remains are not only biological samples — they are also: legal evidence anthropological material cultural or historical specimens sometimes religious or family-sensitive remains Destructive sampling can permanently alter or damage skeletal evidence.#DVI.#ForensicHumanIdentification

Correlation between biological specimens is essential in Forensic Toxicology because it enables experts to distinguish between recent drug ingestion and past exposure, therapeutic use and overdose, acute poisoning and chronic drug use, as well as antemortem drug administration and postmortem redistribution or contamination.#Forensics #ForensicEvidence #Justice

How a body decays after death is of crucial importance in forensic investigations because decomposition follows predictable biological and chemical changes that can provide valuable investigative information. the study of insects associated with decomposing bodies can help to determine the cause of death,the time since death and whether a body has been moved.#ForensicEntomology #CSI