Also known as medical examiners, forensic pathologists are specially-trained physicians who examine human bodies and determine the cause of death, particularly in violent, sudden, or unexpected cases. The forensic pathologist determines whether it was suicide, accidental, homicide, natural or unknown.
Several trends are shaping the field of forensic pathology. Next-generation forensics is an emerging term in this discipline, which refers to adopting cutting-edge methodologies, such as virtual autopsies, digital pathology, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and mass spectrometry.
A virtual autopsy leverages imaging technology to examine a body .Virtual autopsies are less invasive and expensive . As technology improves over the coming years, it may become the preferred method for establishing the cause of death in certain types of cases
Meanwhile, digital pathology uses digital imaging technologies to examine organs and tissues. Compared to traditional microscopy, digital pathology allows the pathologist to view slides electronically. In addition, the digital slides can be electronically stored, which makes them easier to save and share with other pathologists. Pathologists can leverage image-processing software to enhance viewing and diagnostic accuracy.
Three other notable technological advances disrupting forensic and molecular investigation include DNA sequencing, immunoassays, and mass spectrometry. Pathologists use DNA sequencing to identify changes in genes. This information gathered can then be deployed to develop new diagnostic tests. Increasingly, molecular pathology is playing a growing role in disease diagnosis and treatment and in determining the cause of death or morbidity.
Forensic toxicology investigations involve establishing the presence and concentration of drugs in body fluids and organs. The interpretation of these investigations can have legal implications. In this regard, immunoassays are proving a very useful tool. These biochemical tests detect the presence and concentration of particular chemicals or toxins in tissue and organs.
The use of mass spectrometry in forensics continues to evolve. Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that quantifies and identifies unknown compounds in a sample. Available in specialist centers, mass spectrometry equipment is also used in toxicology laboratories.
Improvements in mass spectrometry sample refinements now allow for higher sampling without the need for extensive sample purification. Today, many mass spectrometers are operated by computers to help with data handling. The compact spectrometers also eliminate the carryover and contamination risk.
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is gaining much traction in forensics. Through NGS technology, pathologists can simultaneously obtain multiple results from biological evidence samples from potential crime scenes. In 2019, for example, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) published promising results on using NGS for human identification.
Genetic-based identification is usually conducted through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique amplifies small segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) through short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. STR is a molecular biology method that compares DNA between samples.
However, PCR amplification of STRs has challenges like copy errors that might confound results interpretation. The technique may also require costly multiple rounds of testing. Next-generation sequencing, in contrast, can sequence entire genomes with great precision. Also, compared to PCR techniques, NGS comes with the benefit of being bioinformatics tool powered that can expedite STR analysis. Bioinformatics comprises software programs designed to extract meaningful information from molecular biology mass.
