A mysterious white powder, a trace of blood, and a moldy ham sandwich – completely unrelated to most. But they could prove useful to forensic scientists, who analyze physical evidence and samples for clues that can help solve crimes. Television shows such as Bones, CSI, and Law & Order have glorified forensic pathologists and made the field more popular, so competition can be intense. However, if you have a strong desire to shape the world of justice by using science to solve criminal mysteries, then a career in forensics might be worth pursuing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences and technologies to investigate and establish facts of interest in relation to criminal or civil law. To become one, you must have at least a bachelor's degree in science. Common specializations include chemistry, physics, biology, or forensics. Approximately 90% of forensic chemists work in laboratories associated with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, medical examiner's office, forensic services laboratory, or branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). There are a few private laboratories that perform forensic analysis. They tend to have rigorous work schedules, but if you are very interested in the field, this should not be a problem for you. When it comes to chemistry, this field of work is related to forensics in many ways. For example, blood test. In addition to being used for suspect identification, the contents of blood at a crime scene can be evaluated to reveal the presence of substances. For this evaluation, a chemist will perform a chromatography test, which uses intense heat to separate blood into different contents. Next, a chemist determines the level of substances such as alcohol or medications that could affect the suspect's actions and motivation during the given crime. Another practice carried out by forensic pathologists and related to chemistry would be DNA forensics in criminal cases. Forensic DNA is used in criminal cases to match an individual's DNA to that of body cells left at the scene of a crime, such as skin cells, hair, and blood. The FBI most commonly uses STR analysis for its cases. With STR analysis, chemists take DNA samples from crime scene areas. These are then compared to individuals' DNA profiles in a large database called CODIS to identify suspects. The third and final topic addressed by the medical examiner is firearm analysis. Chemistry is often used in gun crimes to identify information contained in recovered bullets and residue. For example, a forensic scientist will examine a suspect's hands and clothing with infrared lights to look for gunpowder residue. If this residue matches that of the bullet found in the victim, there is evidence that the suspect recently fired the same type of firearm that injured the victim. If no powder residue is found on a suspect, a chemical analysis of the bullet can still reveal information such as the type of firearm used and how long the bullet was fired. There are several popular criminal cases in which these chemistry-based practices have been applied. Forensic doctors areeven sometimes the reason cold cases are solved. For example, the infamous OJ Simpson case. As most of us know, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were fatally stabbed on the evening of June 12, 1994. Although 99% of people surveyed around the world believe that OJ Simpson is guilty of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, one question remains the case remains a complete mystery: did two police officers plant DNA evidence at the scene to try to create a blatant case? Detective Furman, who was exposed as a violent racist during the trials, was accused of planting OJ's glove at the scene. Additionally, Simpson's blood sample was proven to have been brought to the crime scene by a police evidence technician, and it was later discovered that the tube of blood at the crime scene contained only 6 cc of blood while 8 cc had been extracted. Simpson's blood at the crime scene reflected DNA mixed with EDTA, a substance added to blood taken for DNA testing. Furman pleaded no contest to the charges against him regarding this OJ “plot” and is now a convicted felon. Without the work of forensic scientists and the application of chemistry, this project could not have been brought to an end. Another case would be the murder of Anna Palmer. It was DNA evidence that led to a conviction in the 1998 murder case of 10-year-old Anna Palmer, who was attacked and killed on her own front door in Salt Lake City. The crime was gruesome and included multiple stab wounds to his body, but after the crime, investigators had no witnesses, little evidence and no apparent suspects, the news station reported. However, in 2009, forensic analysts were called in to assist in the case and decided to examine the girl's fingernails for DNA samples. Using visible and alternative light sources to search for DNA not belonging to the girl, they were able to match it to a man named Matthew Brock, who lived a block away at the time of her murder and was then 19 years old. Brock was already in prison, serving a 10-year sentence for a child sex crime, and he pleaded guilty in 2011 to an aggravated murder charge for the death of Anna Palmer and is now in prison for life. by Leanne Tiernan was a case solved by forensic scientists and their knowledge of chemistry. In August 2001, a man walking his dog in Lindley Woods, West Yorkshire, found the body of 16-year-old Leanne Tiernan buried in a shallow grave. His head was wrapped in a black plastic bag, held in place by a leather dog collar; zip ties also held his wrists together. Her body was wrapped in green plastic trash bags and tied with string. She was found about ten miles from her home in Leeds. She was returning home from a Christmas shopping trip with her best friend in November 2000 when she disappeared. However, pathologists said his body had not been there since November. She had been strangled and her body had in the meantime been stored at low temperatures. Police were able to trace the suppliers of the dog collar and found a man who had purchased several dog collars similar to the one found around Leanne's neck. This man was John Taylor, a poacher who often hunted in the same woods where Leanne's body was found. The twine it was wrapped in was of an unusual type, used for rabbit netting, and was found with a supplier in Devon, who had only produced a single batch. This corresponds.