Sutures and DNA

Forensic Anthropology Identification and examination of human skeletal remains Identification and examination of human skeletal remains –Trying to determine origin, sex, approximate age, race and skeletal injury –May create facial reconstruction –Identify victims of mass disaster such as plane crash

Aging of Bone What can bone tell us? –Children build bones faster and bones grow in size –After 30 years – process starts to reverse and bones deteriorate faster than built Can be slowed by exercise –# of bones and their condition can tell a person’s age, health, and calcium in food

Distinguishing Age Bones don’t reach maturity at the same time – To help tell their age: –suture marks –presence or absence of cartilage

Osteobiography The story of a life as told by bones Things we can see: –Loss of bone density, poor teeth, signs of arthritis –Previous fractures, artificial joints, and pins –Right-handed vs. left-handed –Physical labor

Suture Marks Zigzag areas where bones of the skull meet –In babies, some is soft tissue that is gradually ossified –Suture marks slowly fade to give smoother appearance as bones age

Suture Marks Cont’d Coronal Suture: –closed by age 50 Lamboidal Suture: –begins closing at 21 –accelerates at 26 –closed by 30

DNA Evidence Mitochondrial DNA degrades much, much, much slower –Can be extracted from bones and compared to living relatives on mother’s side of family

Digital Imagery Reconstruction: Use of computer superimposes photo of skull with outer skin.

Facial reconstruction technique used by forensic artists.

Facial Reconstruction Plastic 3 D reconstruction 2 dimensional reconstruction

Computerized programs for Facial Reconstruction