| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S98054/01 |
| Title: |
A laboratory based analytical method to determine 'age at death' for forensic purposes using human bone |
| Principal Investigator: |
Zioupos, Professor P |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Cranfield Defence and Security |
| Organisation: |
Cranfield University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
13 September 2004 |
Ends: |
12 September 2006 |
Value (£): |
127,693
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Analytical Science |
Development (Biosciences) |
| Materials testing & eng. |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This is a proposal within the remit of forensic science/crime detection and in the field of forensic osteology (anthropology/pathology). This proposal outlines plans to develop, validate and assess a new methodology to predict 'age at death' of individuals by using laboratory based analytical techniques. The analysis is based on human bone samples and requires only a small amount of tissue, as may be the case in dismembered bodies or where the corpses have sustained excessive damage or fragmentation. Death may be due to natural causes, homicide, suicide, mass disaster or war crimes, such as massacres incited nowadays by religious or ethnic cleansing. Age is one of the four important attributes that a forensic anthropologist is called to answer together with sex, stature and ethnic background. Current methods often are unable to determined age better than saying a mature adult . Examination of skeletal features offers accuracy no better than 15 years, while the best-known analytical technique is based on quantification of ontogenic changes in the optical isomers of aspartic acid present in the body, yet it is a complex method and is inaccurate for females. The proposed new methodology is based on a more thorough characterisation of the material aspects of human bone. It works by quantifying constitutional and/or heterogeneity related changes in the inner structure and properties of the bone matrix and its elements to produce through a series of algorithms prediction values for the age of the individual, which are in most cases within 3 years of the actual values.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk |