Traditionally, forensic anthropologists determine the biological sex of adult or adolescent skeletal remains by evaluating the size and shape of the pelvis. If the pelvis is missing, features of the skull, such as the browridge and mandible, can be used instead. Measuring the long bones e.g. the humerus is a much less accurate method for sex determination, but sometimes, this is as good as it gets
How a forensic anthropologist goes about solving the problem of sex determination is demonstrated in this video, produced by the National Forensic Science Technology Center. It shows a seminar entitled 'The Determination of Biological Sex from the Human Skeleton'. It isn't too technical and has plenty of visual aids. It's just over 20 minutes long but it is a very good overview of the subject.
In the seminar, the accuracy rate for determining biological sex using a visual examination of the pelvis is given as 90-95%. In 2010, researchers at North Carolina State University published a method of determining biological sex using 3-D imaging technology of the pelvis. They claim a 98% accuracy rate, or better, using their technique.
An added benefit of the NCSU technique is the ability to determine biological sex from pelvic fragments. The examination of fragments can be a major stumbling block with traditional methods. Unless the sex determination indicators are present in the fragment, the examination may come to nothing. The researchers from NCSU hope to have solved this problem.
The researchers chose 20 'anatomical landmarks' which differentiate males from females on the os coxa or hip bone. They measured these 'landmarks' using 3-D imaging technology.
So, to determine the sex of a skeleton from a fragment of pelvic bone, the forensic anthropologist uses a digitiser to create a 3-D map of the fragment and measures the relevant anatomical landmarks. These measurements are then compared with the published measurements for the same landmarks to determine the sex.
This type of quantifiable data holds up well in court. Rather than the forensic anthropologist having to present an expert opinion, which can sometimes be difficult for juries to comprehend, he or she can present a set of figures. This is tangible and should be more meaningful to a jury.
Here is a link to an article about the research:
New technique for determining the sex of skeletal remains
Last week, researchers from the University of Granada in Spain published details of a new imaging technique for identifying the age and sex of skeletal remains, using features of the pubis. The pubis is one of the three bones of the os coxa (hip bone). In adults and adolescents, the three bones are fused together.
Traditionally, forensic anthropologists have considered that the pubis was only useful for the identification of remains in the age range 20-40. However, the researchers found that they obtained good results from bodies of people older than 50, particularly men.
This new method of age and sex determination essentially combines imaging techniques with statistical analysis. It is reckoned to be state-of-the-art and user-friendly, with an accuracy rate of 95%.
You can read about it here:
New imaging technique for identifying the sex and age of a corpse
I hope you have found something in this blog that you can use in your writing. Do let me know if there are any topics you would particularly like to know more about. I'm also happy to answer your forensics questions. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @forensicswrite.
How a forensic anthropologist goes about solving the problem of sex determination is demonstrated in this video, produced by the National Forensic Science Technology Center. It shows a seminar entitled 'The Determination of Biological Sex from the Human Skeleton'. It isn't too technical and has plenty of visual aids. It's just over 20 minutes long but it is a very good overview of the subject.
In the seminar, the accuracy rate for determining biological sex using a visual examination of the pelvis is given as 90-95%. In 2010, researchers at North Carolina State University published a method of determining biological sex using 3-D imaging technology of the pelvis. They claim a 98% accuracy rate, or better, using their technique.
An added benefit of the NCSU technique is the ability to determine biological sex from pelvic fragments. The examination of fragments can be a major stumbling block with traditional methods. Unless the sex determination indicators are present in the fragment, the examination may come to nothing. The researchers from NCSU hope to have solved this problem.
The researchers chose 20 'anatomical landmarks' which differentiate males from females on the os coxa or hip bone. They measured these 'landmarks' using 3-D imaging technology.
So, to determine the sex of a skeleton from a fragment of pelvic bone, the forensic anthropologist uses a digitiser to create a 3-D map of the fragment and measures the relevant anatomical landmarks. These measurements are then compared with the published measurements for the same landmarks to determine the sex.
This type of quantifiable data holds up well in court. Rather than the forensic anthropologist having to present an expert opinion, which can sometimes be difficult for juries to comprehend, he or she can present a set of figures. This is tangible and should be more meaningful to a jury.
Here is a link to an article about the research:
New technique for determining the sex of skeletal remains
Last week, researchers from the University of Granada in Spain published details of a new imaging technique for identifying the age and sex of skeletal remains, using features of the pubis. The pubis is one of the three bones of the os coxa (hip bone). In adults and adolescents, the three bones are fused together.
Traditionally, forensic anthropologists have considered that the pubis was only useful for the identification of remains in the age range 20-40. However, the researchers found that they obtained good results from bodies of people older than 50, particularly men.
This new method of age and sex determination essentially combines imaging techniques with statistical analysis. It is reckoned to be state-of-the-art and user-friendly, with an accuracy rate of 95%.
You can read about it here:
New imaging technique for identifying the sex and age of a corpse
I hope you have found something in this blog that you can use in your writing. Do let me know if there are any topics you would particularly like to know more about. I'm also happy to answer your forensics questions. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @forensicswrite.
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