Decomposition Chemistry of Human Remains: A New Methodology for Determining the Postmortem Interval

Vass, Arpad A.; Barshick, Stacy‐Ann; Sega, Gary A.; Caton, J.E.; Skeen, James T.; Love, J. Christopher; Synstelien, Jennifer A.

doi:10.1520/jfs15294j

Cited by 246 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…However, these taphonomic, molecular or biogeochemical models do not explain the detailed preservation of still-soft, transparent, hollow and flexible tissues and cells over geological time, given that natural processes such as decay and degradation (Behrensmeyer & Kidwell 1985;Denys 2002;Wilson & Pollard 2002;Jans et al 2004;Prieto et al 2004), cellular apoptosis or necrosis (e.g. Usui et al 1989;Briggs et al 2000;Vass et al 2002) and chemical and/or enzymatic degradation (Lindahl 1993;Riley & Collins 1994;Collins et al 2000Collins et al , 2002 act in concert to rapidly degrade both the molecules and the tissues they comprise.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft tissue and cellular preservation in vertebrate skeletal elements from the Cretaceous to the present

2007

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Soft tissues and cell-like microstructures derived from skeletal elements of a well-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex (MOR 1125) were represented by four components in fragments of demineralized cortical and/or medullary bone: flexible and fibrous bone matrix; transparent, hollow and pliable blood vessels; intravascular material, including in some cases, structures morphologically reminiscent of vertebrate red blood cells; and osteocytes with intracellular contents and flexible filipodia. The present study attempts to trace the occurrence of these four components in bone from specimens spanning multiple geological time periods and varied depositional environments. At least three of the four components persist in some skeletal elements of specimens dating to the Campanian. Fibrous bone matrix is more altered over time in morphology and less likely to persist than vessels and/or osteocytes. Vessels vary greatly in preservation, even within the same specimen, with some regions retaining pliability and other regions almost crystalline. Osteocytes also vary, with some retaining long filipodia and transparency, while others present with short and stubby filipodia and deeply pigmented nuclei, or are pigmented throughout with no nucleus visible. Alternative hypotheses are considered to explain the origin/source of observed materials. Finally, a twopart mechanism, involving first cross-linking of molecular components and subsequent mineralization, is proposed to explain the surprising presence of still-soft elements in fossil bone. These results suggest that present models of fossilization processes may be incomplete and that soft tissue elements may be more commonly preserved, even in older specimens, than previously thought. Additionally, in many cases, osteocytes with defined nuclei are preserved, and may represent an important source for informative molecular data.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft tissue and cellular preservation in vertebrate skeletal elements from the Cretaceous to the present

2007

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“…Thus, ptomaines yield positive test results for alkaloids and can interfere with the color reaction and tests used to detect plant poisons in forensic investigations. There is currently a resurrection of interest in nitrogenous small molecules associated with corpse decomposition since the profile of these compounds can be useful to assess postmortem intervals and to locate human remains in wild environments [ 29 ]. Additionally, the human ptomaine profile is significantly different from the one of other mammals and can differently affect soil as well as vegetation growth and foliage color [ 30 ].…”

Section: The First Two Decades Of the Turin Years (1879–1900)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Icilio Guareschi and his amazing “1897 reaction”

Tron

Minassi

Sorba

et al. 2021

Beilstein J. Org. Chem.

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Organic chemistry honors Icilio Guareschi (1847–1918) with three eponymic reactions, the best known ones being the Guareschi synthesis of pyridones and the Guareschi–Lustgarten reaction. A third Guareschi reaction, the so-called “Guareschi 1897 reaction”, is one of the most unusual reactions in organic chemistry, involving the radical-mediated paradoxical aerobic generation of hydrocarbons in near-neutral water solution. A discussion of the mechanism of this amazing reaction, the only metal-free process that generates hydrocarbons, and the implications of the approach in biology and geosciences mirrors the multifaceted scientific personality of the discoverer. Thus, Guareschi’s eclectic range of activities spans a surprising variety of topics, overcoming the boundaries of the traditional partition of chemistry into organic, inorganic, and analytical branches and systematically crosses the divide between pure and applied science as well as between the history of chemistry and the personal contributions to its development.

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“…Ayrışmada iki ana süreç otoliz ve pütrefaksiyondur. Otoliz, ayrışmanın "kendi kendini sindirme" yönünü ifade eder 16 . Aerobik organizmalarda ölüm, vücutta hücre ölümüne ve ardından hücresel yapıların parçalanmasına neden olan yüksek karbondioksit ortamına neden olur.…”

Section: Tenessee Antropolojik Araştırma Merkezinden (Arf) öğRenilenlerunclassified

“…Tablo 1, bu aşamaların temel özelliklerini ve yaklaşık sürelerini özetlemektedir. 16 . İleri ayrışma/ilk iskeletleşme aşaması, vücut sıvılarının büyük ölçekte vücuttan ayrışmasıyla alttaki iskeletin açığa çıkmasıyla belirlenir 11 .…”

Section: Tenessee Antropolojik Araştırma Merkezinden (Arf) öğRenilenlerunclassified

The Farm Where Death Lightened the Facts: Body Farm

Özesen

Kaya

Erdem

2021

Arşiv Kaynak Tarama Dergisi

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Taphonomy is the science that studies the burial process of living things. The first human taphonomy facility was developed in 1971 by Forensic Anthropologist Dr. William Bass at the University of Tennessee. In addition to better understanding the stages of the human corpse according to various situations, the facilities established for this purpose are also used for the training of law enforcement officers, the development of crime scene techniques and the realization of cadaver dog training. Many experiments related to the corpse and environment are carried out in these research centers and many data about possible situations can be obtained and more realistic inferences and more objective results can be obtained, as a result of which crime scene investigation, autopsy and detection methods are developed. Taphonomy Research Centers provide a controlled examination of the posthumous stages of corpses. In addition, it enables the determination of what changes will occur in the corpse as a result of exposure to various environmental factors, and how long it will be able to benefit from the biological samples to be taken. Rational results can be obtained due to its ability to provide a controlled experiment. Thanks to the data obtained, the development of new crime scene investigation training and techniques also enables the training of cadaver dogs. Since such centers are a constant source of information for scientific research and development, we believe that they should become more widespread.

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Decomposition Chemistry of Human Remains: A New Methodology for Determining the Postmortem Interval

Cited by 246 publications

References 6 publications

Soft tissue and cellular preservation in vertebrate skeletal elements from the Cretaceous to the present

Soft tissue and cellular preservation in vertebrate skeletal elements from the Cretaceous to the present

Icilio Guareschi and his amazing “1897 reaction”

The Farm Where Death Lightened the Facts: Body Farm

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