O True Apothecary: How Forensic Science Helps Solve a Classic Crime

Abstract

As part of a university-wide project to explore Shakespeare's classic play, Romeo and Juliet, from a variety of perspectives, we presented an interdisciplinary talk to our university community on the chemistry of the potions and poisons referenced in Romeo and Juliet. To draw our multidisciplinary audience in and to teach about forensics as well as pharmaceutical herbs and chemicals, our presentation was given from the perspective of how a modern crime scene investigator would approach the famous play's final death scene without any prior knowledge of the situation. We described how if an autopsy of Juliet's body had been done, it might have revealed the presence of the chemicals, hyoscine and atropine, that come from the plant, Atropa belladonna. The autopsy could reveal whether or not the Friar had truly set out to sedate Juliet, or if he had attempted to kill her. An autopsy of Romeo's body might have revealed the presence of aconitine from the plant, Aconitum napellus. Through this approach of using a classic story to teach about chemistry, we were able to introduce basic ideas about forensics and pharmacology, emphasizing the importance of dose when determining the effect of a drug on the human body.

Using Pop-Culture to Engage Students in the Classroom

“…22−27 As examples, educators illustrated chemistry with a Shakespeare's play 28 while others found inspiration in detective cases where chemistry was used by the perpetrator of a crime or in their identification. 29,30 The chemical references from Ian Fleming's James Bond 31 series of novels were used to illustrate chemical reactions and substances (sedatives, rocket fuels, etc.). The Harry Potter novel series also offered an opportunity to reproduce wizardry experiments 32 in a chemistry lab (e.g., with invisible and color-changing inks, colored flame in a jam-jar).…”

“…In several articles, authors describe aspects of popular culture (pop-culture) to teach chemistry using resources that are part of everyday life to engage students more effectively. Chemistry classes have been supplemented with material from arts such as music − (including jazz and opera , ) and paintings − (including fashion art), history, − archeology, − or literature. − As examples, educators illustrated chemistry with a Shakespeare’s play while others found inspiration in detective cases where chemistry was used by the perpetrator of a crime or in their identification. , The chemical references from Ian Fleming’s James Bond series of novels were used to illustrate chemical reactions and substances (sedatives, rocket fuels, etc.). The Harry Potter novel series also offered an opportunity to reproduce wizardry experiments in a chemistry lab (e.g., with invisible and color-changing inks, colored flame in a jam-jar).…”

“The Chemistry of Poisons”: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Integrating Chemical, Toxicological, and Medicinal Principles

“…The biological activity of toxic molecules and their impact on the human experience are of professional interest to scientists and health care professionals and of general interest to undergraduate students studying everything from sciences to humanities. Examples of successful interdisciplinary activities centered on chemistry and poisons include the integration of The Poisoner’s Handbook into undergraduate chemistry courses, the application of forensic science to analysis of literary classics and fictional crime scenes, , and the discussion of chemical phenomena that may have inspired operatic plots . To add to and build upon these examples, we describe the development, goals, activities, and outcomes of an interdisciplinary course entitled “The Chemistry of Poisons.”…”

Opera and Poison: A Secret and Enjoyable Approach To Teaching and Learning Chemistry

“…[3][4][5] Recently a chemical and forensic view of Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" has been reported in this journal. 6 There are a few very obvious connections between opera and chemistry, one being…”