A year old….And yet too Young!!

Our Firm (Ifo Forensic Standards and Research Pvt Ltd) turns a year old today on 13 April, 2010.

It has been a year since Our Company has been registered. It seems like yesterday that we had passed out and were stepping into the World of Forensic Corporates….What a Year it has been!!!!

The entire year has been a series of highs and lows but what is a year without it…rite??

The Company is a Reflection of what we truly believe- A Team of Young Leaders..we are here to make it Big in a Small World….

The world is our playground and we are Players of a different kind. We have taken the entire Company to a level where the Forensic Community appreciates the facts that Forensics is been put into the limelight.

From Forums, to blogs, to never ending websites… we are trying to expand on the social network too… Catch us on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IFO-FORENSIC-STANDARDS-AND-RESEARCH-PVT-LTD/168306650425

Twitter: http://twitter.com/IFOexperts

Orkut: http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=90462514

The listing of websites are huge so just listing two:

www.ifsr.in

www.forensic-science.webs.com

Last but not the least the support and guidance from many have made Our Firm strong. Thank you for all those who have guided us.

This year also brings into the picture the Creation for A Forensic Database for Indian Forensic Experts. I would request Forensic Experts from all over India to be a part of this Database

Cheers! to this year and many more yet to come for IFO!!!

Love Always,

Joulyn

Equine Forensics: New Test Recognizes Sample Contamination

Forensic Use:  It aids in proper identification of racehorses competing in an official race and maintenance of defensible chain of custody which are important in doping control regulations.

The Equine forensic scientists from Pennsylvania have developed a novel assay for equine blood and urine samples to identify racehorses and ensure that the samples destined for drug testing were handled appropriately.

The Assay:

Amplification of 21 STR loci from blood, urine or hair root was achieved in a single tube and STR length polymorphism was analyzed using fluorescent labeled capillary electrophoresis.

The Breakthrough:

This method is the first in the horseracing industry, specifically designed for racehorse identification and detection of equine sample contamination by human DNA.

Why was this Necessary?

Blood and urine samples collected from racehorses by Commission employees (witnessed by the horse trainer or representative,) are sometimes challenged for breaches in the chain of custody. For example, contamination of equine samples with human samples has been reported. To confirm the source of a blood or urine sample and to minimize disputes over sample handling, a novel genetic test called the “24-plex STR” was developed.

The Equine Forensic Scientists at work:

The technique involves analyzing pieces of genetic material called short tandem repeats (STRs). These sections of DNA are amplified and analyzed to either match or exclude a match from a single blood or urine sample using 24 different STRs, including three human STRs.Researchers tested the technique in 90 Thoroughbred and 171 Standardbred horses. According to the scientists, “the method was highly discriminating and reproducible with a probability of false identification of 1 in 10¹¹ in Thoroughbreds and 1 in 10¹³ in Standardbreds.

Need more on the Research??

The study, “Identification of racehorse and sample contamination by novel 24-plex STR system,” was published in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics in the April 2010 edition. The abstract is available on PubMed

The Flaws of Forensic Entomology

Well, I have been a Zoology student in my grad so Entomology was my applied component which I readily took up not because of the little creatures but how they bring to live the details in solving a Crime Case. (wherever involved)

I loved the Camp trip I made in my grad year collecting insects. The camp was amazing right from the scratch, except for those few annoying brats in class. (Names withheld on request )

Anyways the Fascination of Entomology continued, through my masters and books kept me fixated on the new and happenings of Forensic Ento World.

I came across the article today:

A Jury of Bugs: The Flaws of Forensic Entomology

• By Brandon Keim

Now I do not know how many read this article but it really makes a lot of sense when we talk how rapidly our Environment is changing.

They belive that Climate change and a reliance on DNA for species identification may be reducing the ability of forensic entomologists to solve crimes.

THE REASON:

Climatic Conditions an important factor in the death investigations have widely affected the way a number of insects have infested or manifested themselves. The main conditions like the ambient temperature,Body surface temperature,  Ground surface temperature, Under body temperature, Water temperature, if aquatic,Enclosed temperature, have majorly affected the ways these tiny beings have infested.

In a recent study at a recent North American Forensic Entomology meeting Kimsey said she assembled six blowfly specimens and asked attendees to identify them.”No one identified them all correctly” says Kimsey.. “We were very discouraged. If you cant identify the blowfly correctly, then your estimation of the postmortem interval could be wrong”

Well the flaws could be few to many it would be preferable to use modern molecular techniques based on DNA Sequencing. But to be real; most insects do not appear in genetic databases because their genes haven’t been sequenced.

In conclusion, I would say apart from the crisis of global warming and environmental changes; the forensic entomologists have a daunting tasks in hand

“The body and the decomposers are telling you what happened if you can understand the

language.” – Lord and Rodriquez

(**Subject to change**)…lol

My Case Review on Nooria Haveliwala

Nooria Haveliwala: Drunk-n-Driving Case- THE FLIP/FLOPS

THE CASE:

Haveliwala (27) is lodged in Byculla jail since January 30 when she rammed her Honda CRV and killed sub-inspector Dina Nath Shinde and a biker, Afzal, near Marine Lines. Four constables were also injured. She was found to be drunk at the time of the accident. She was booked for culpable homicide, greivous hurt and rash and negligent driving.

THE VERDICT:
NRI Nooria Haveliwala who is facing a case of drunk driving and for killing two persons, will now be booked for consuming drugs. A forensic science laboratory test found the presence of morphine and cannabis in Haveliwala’s blood and urine samples.

THE REAL DEAL:
Haveliwala had told the police that she had consumed seven cans of beer throughout the day on January 30.

THE FORENSIC LAB TESTS:
“A forensic science lab report states that she has tested positive for drugs. The lab authorities have found the presence of morphine and cannabis in her blood and urine.

The blood report stated that the alcohol content in her body was 144 mg/100 ml, which is less than one-third of what had been detected by the breathalyser. A spot test carried out by the traffic police on Haveliwala had revealed 457 mg/100 ml of alcohol in her body.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Kalina, on Wednesday detected the presence of cannabis and morphine in her system, which indicates that Haveliwala’s judgement on the night of the mishap could have been affected due to their stupefying effect.

THE COVER UP:
I lost control as a car was chasing me: Nooria

LATEST GOOF UP:
“Initially, she said that she was on her way back after dropping one of her friends. Later, she said she was going to meet some of her friends. After some time, she insisted that two men were following her, as a result of which she was driving at such great speed,”

Well… that is all I have to say about that.  :)

IFSR Trainings in India

We have recently have had ties with Labs to provide Training to Forensic/Biotech/Clinical Research Aspirants.

We are proud to present the following trainings in the following areas:
DNA Fingerprinting
DNA Forensics
Advance Recombinant DNA & PCR Technology
Industrial Enzymology & Drug Discovery
Advance DNA Technology & Pharmacoinformatics

There are many trainings in the Biotechnology and Clinical Research Fields.

For more Information or details please contact us:
training@ifsr.in

** We would be glad if you can pass on the message to your friends/colleagues who are looking for such an opportunity**

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Debunking Myths to Forensic science

Quotes I treasure…

Even if I don’t reach all my goals, I’ve gone higher than I would have if I hadn’t set any….

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.