Forensic Determination Of Age At Time Of Death From The Analysis Of Bones
Forensic determination of ‘age at time of death’ from the analysis of bones Dr Peter Zioupos at Cranfield University has developed an improved method for determining a person’s age at the time of death, from small samples of bone and with a level of accuracy previously not obtainable. The technique is particularly effective beyond the age of skeletal maturity (30-35 years), an area that is very often problematic with existing techniques. The university is seeking collaborative development and licensing relationships with commercial/research partners. This invention from Cranfield University consists of a technique for the prediction of ‘age at death’ using laboratory based analytical techniques. Age is one of the four important attributes that a forensic anthropologist may be called on to determine in the case of a body or body parts of unknown origin, together with sex, stature and ethnic background. Current methods of age determination are largely qualitative and are only able to categorise individuals within broad age bands. The accuracy of current age determination methods...