1. P OLLEN AND S PORE E XAMINATION

2. I NTRODUCTION Pollen and spore information can be used to determine the following: Was the body moved? Where did the crime take place? What season did the crime take place? Did the crime take place in the day or night? Forensic Palynology – study of pollen and spore evidence to help solve a crime. Pollen – reproductive structure that contains sperm from seed plants Spore – reproductive structure that develops into an adult in algae, some plants, and fungi.

3. P OLLEN P RODUCERS Pollen fingerprint – number and type of pollen grains found in an area at a particular time of year. Plant kingdom is divided into two groups based on how they reproduce: seeds or no seeds. Seeds: Gymnosperms (evergreens) and Angiosperms (flowering plants) Nonseeds: Ferns, moss, liverworts, horsetails, club mosses

4. G YMNOSPERMS Means naked seed – the seed is not protected like they are in flowering plants Most numerous group of gymnosperms are the conifers (evergreens) Produce their seeds within a cone. Heres how: Pollination occurs when pollen lands on a female cone, grows and releases the sperm near the egg. Once the egg is fertilized, a seed develops (containing an embryo)

5. A NGIOSPERMS Flowering plants Produce seeds within an enclosed fruit Parts of a flower:

6. T YPES OF P OLLINATION Important in forensics in determining the presence or absence of pollen in a place or on an object of a crime scene Self pollination vs. Cross pollination Self – pollen transfer from anther to stigma within the same flower. Cross – pollen transfer involving two distinct plants Self pollinating plants has lower value because they produce less pollen

7. M ETHODS OF POLLINATION Wind pollination – produce a lot of pollen (good and bad) Good – well represented in the pollen profile of a crime scene Bad – less effective in determining direct links Flowers are usually nonfragrant, lack color, small Animal pollination – insects, birds, bats, monkeys Flowers are fragrant and showy Pollen grains are durable and can adhere to things Strong evidence of contact Produce less pollen

8. Dandelion – wind pollinated Burs – animal pollinated (poor dog) Notice the hooks on the ends of the spikes Maple tree seeds – helicopters

9. M ETHODS OF POLLINATION CONTINUED Water pollination Rarely preserved because it is composed of only a single layer cell wall made of cellulose Pollen will decompose if removed from water Limited use, excepts for drowned victims…contents of the lung can be emptied and analyzed.

10. S PORE P RODUCERS Algae Adapted for dispersal in water or air Ferns and Mosses Release spores into the air Because of this, forensics is most interested in these Fungi Produce a large amount Mold, yeast, mushrooms Can be found practically everywhere Bacteria (an exception) Some bacteria produce thick-walled, resistant spores called endospores. Different in structure and arent used in reproduction Bacteria that causes anthrax and botulism are examples

11. S PORE D ISPERSAL Wind Water Spore ejection Animal disperal (they eat the spore and deposit it somewhere else in their feces) Spore analysis has one advantage over pollen…it is possible to grow the organism and identify the species exactly.

12. P OLLEN AND SPORE IDENTIFICATION IN SOLVING CRIMES Exine -- The hard outer layer of a pollen or spore grain Has a unique and complex structure under the microscope. Larger pollen grains cant travel far (can only drift with the wind ½ mile) (corn) Wind-dispersed pollen grains are simple, have thin walls, easily preserved Animal-dispersed pollen grains are large, sticky, highly ornamented, thick-walled and easily preserved

13. P OLLEN AND SPORE IDENTIFICATION IN SOLVING CRIMES C ONTINUED Identification of pollen and spore grains is species specific Help determine season Help determine location If not native to the crime scene, body was moved. Pollen and spores are difficult to eliminate by the suspect because they are microscopic They are resistant to dehydration and decomposition (can be found in sediment from millions of years ago) Locards principle is easily applied (especially animal dispersed seeds)