Forensic Services - Forensic Biology
The Forensic Biology Section is responsible for the detection, identification, and comparison of biological evidence. This section is staffed by 11 Forensic Scientists both in the Central Lab and Northern Lab. The Forensic Biology Section caseload consists primarily of sexual assault cases and homicides. Occasionally, a burglary, robbery, or assault case might involve biological evidence.
Biological evidence may be present as blood, semen, saliva, hairs, or other cellular material.
When a biology case is analyzed, it typically goes to Serology and then to DNA for comparisson.
SEROLOGY: The detection and identification of bilogical fluids
DNA: The genetic make-up of living organisms
CODIS: The DNA Database
The DNA profiles from forensic specimens and convicted felons are submitted to a national database.
The Combined DNA Index System -- (CODIS) system is a program that is headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - (FBI). The objective of this database is to link serial crimes on a national level, much like the Automated Fingerprint Index System -- AFIS. This system has had tremendous successes by solving several high profile crimes that would otherwise not have been solved.
[Last Update - Friday, 08-Mar-2013 16:25:37 MST]