How Forensic Scientists Use Entomology to Solve Crimes The Telltale Blowfly How Forensic Scientists Use Entomology to Solve Crimes Based on the website: http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/forensic.html

OBJECTIVES Extracting factual information from text. Making logical deductions from information presented.

Introduction Here at CGW Crime Labs, we do our best to uncover the truth behind a crime by using our science background. Today we have just discovered the decomposed corpse of a Marine in a rain forest just off the highway in Oahu, Hawaii. By the time entomologist Lee Goff arrived most of the blowflies had come and gone, but many other insects were busy with the body…

Task Your job is to collect and explain evidence on this murder case and use this evidence to draw a conclusion. You will work in groups of 3 - 4 (with at least one computer per group). Leader: keep team members on task and focused Recorder: record all information/data Time Keeper: keep team on schedule Reader: read all directions and passages

PROCEDURE 1 1. Open up an internet browser. For the full story on this marine, read the excerpt at http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/forensic.html HINT: You can either copy and paste this link into your browser, or right click on this link and click on ‘open.’

Procedure 2 2. Re-create the table you see below. 3. Fill in the table indicating when the three insects arrive or leave the body. Type of Insect When they arrive/When they leave What they prove Hairy Maggot/Blowflies Cheese Skippers Soldier Flies

Procedure 3 Use the example and template on the next slide to complete this part of the procedures. Make a Claim: A conclusion that answers the original question. Give Your Evidence: scientific data that supports the claim. The data needs to be appropriate and sufficient to support the claim. 3. Give Your Reasoning: a justification that links the claim and evidence. It shows why the data counts as evidence by using appropriate and sufficient scientific principles.

Template and Sample Claim: Plants are producers in this food web. Evidence Reasoning I. A. B. II. III. Claim: Plants are producers in this food web. Evidence: Many arrows point to smaller animals in this diagram. Reasoning: A producer is able to create its own food through a photosynthesis while consumers must eat other organisms to produce energy.

Procedure 4 4. Write a paragraph (5 – 7 sentences long) of your own explaining when the Marine died, and how you know. Each student is responsible for contributing his/her own explanation. Create a template like the one below. Student 1 Explanation: Based on my findings, I think that… Student 2 Student 3 Student 4

Procedure 5 1. Skim different articles at: http://www.forensicentomology.com/ 2. On a clean sheet of loose leaf, answer the following questions. Your responses must be in your own words: *What is forensic entomology? *What are two examples of how insects help in solving crimes? *Descibe the life cycles that certain bugs undergo. How can knowledge of insect life cycles aid in uncovering information about a crime scene? *What types of observations and data should you make and collect (respectively) at a crime scene?

Evaluation 1 Claim: 0 – Does not make a claim, or makes an inaccurate claim 1 – Makes an accurate but incomplete claim 2 – Makes an accurate and complete claim

Evaluation 2 Evidence: 0 – Does not provide evidence, or only provides inappropriate evidence (evidence that does not support the claim), no numerical data with appropriate labels 1 – Provides appropriate but insufficient evidence to support claim. May include some inappropriate evidence or missing numerical data or appropriate labels 2 – Provides appropriate and sufficient evidence to support claim. All numerical evidence contains appropriate labels

Evaluation 3 Reasoning: 0 – Does not provide reasoning or only provides reasoning that does not link the evidence to the claim. 1 – Provides reasoning that links the claim and evidence. Repeats the evidence and/or includes some scientific principles, but not sufficient 2 – Provides reasoning that links claim and evidence. Includes appropriate and sufficient scientific principles.

Evaluation 4 Overall Grade 0 – No attempt to start or complete assignment. Work is missing. Work is plagiarized. Work is inaccurate and does not follow rubric. 1 – Some attempt to participate in project. One missing/incomplete component. A few errors and inaccuracies in responses. 2 – Project is complete and accurate in responses. Follows the rubric.

Conclusion Put the above information together. As a group, you must decide the following: 1. How long ago did the Marine die? 2. How do you know? 3. What evidence can you use to justify your claim?

Credits/Resources http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/forensic.html http://www.forensic-entomology.com/