How Blowflies Smell Death and Arrive in Minutes

The science of crime scenes

Chapter 1

Preserving the frozen moment

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Chapter 2

The invisible world of trace evidence

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Chapter 3

Decoding the biological blueprint

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Chapter 4

Toolmarks, digital trails, and ballistics

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YOUR GOAL

Master of The science of crime scenes

Ch 3 · Decoding the biological blueprint

Blowflies can actually smell death and arrive on the scene in mere minutes.

mankai Learn how a blowfly's sensitive antennae act like a GPS to detect death and arrive within minutes in this fascinating infographic.

Glossary

genetic fingerprinting (noun)
A scientific method used to identify individuals by analyzing unique, highly variable patterns in their DNA. Think of it as a biological barcode that helps investigators solve mysteries by matching a tiny drop of saliva or hair to a specific suspect.

Pocket DNA Detective

BETA

renaissanceman Match DNA profiles to discover how forensic scientists identify suspects using crime scene evidence.

renaissanceman Forensic DNA Profiling

A tiny drop of blood is all we need to find, The unique repeating patterns that you left behind.

renaissanceman The chemical clues of toxicology

The insect clocks of death

renaissanceman Blowflies and beetles act as natural timers that reveal exactly when a crime occurred.

Glossary

dna (noun)
A self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the carrier of genetic information. In 1984, Alec Jeffreys developed DNA profiling techniques that revolutionized modern forensic identification.

Gossip

Fascinating forensic career?

Quiz

Which chemical analysis method separates and identifies complex mixtures of drugs or poisons?

Quiz

How far away can a blowfly smell a decomposing organism?

Quiz

Which human bone is the most reliable indicator of biological sex?

Fun Fact

Insect detectives: Blowflies can locate a decomposing body from up to ten miles away within minutes of death.

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Quiz

What does PCR stand for in DNA forensic technology?

Quiz

Who developed the first genetic fingerprinting techniques in England in 1984?

Quiz

What does the term 'post-mortem interval' (PMI) refer to in forensics?

Quiz

Which insect is typically the first to arrive at a decomposing body?

Quiz

What is the famous nickname of the University of Tennessee's decomposition research facility?