Fingerprints and DNA get all the glory when it comes to forensics, or at least what most people know about the subject. However, there are other less well-known forensic techniques used in solving cases, and I thought I'd take the next few days highlighting some of these odder creatures, such as ear mark identification.
Ear marks? As the site Ear Identification Research points out, if someone places his ear against the hard surface of a door in an
attempt to overhear what people may be talking about behind the door,
the eavesdropper could leave behind an impression of his ear on the door's
surface, which can be developed like a latent
fingerprint. In fact, as this BBC Site indicates, police in the U.K. are compiling what is
believed to be the world's largest computer database of ear prints to
be used in the same way as fingerprint evidence. (If you want to read more about the history of ear print IDs, Crime and Clues has more details.
Although there has been some controversy in the past as to whether ear prints were as unique as fingerprints, studies seem to be trending in that direction, especially in Europe, where it's thought to be more reliable in legal proceedings, as it is virtually
impossible to tamper with an ear print or accidentally leave an ear print at a crime scene.
It may be a few years before ear print evidence is accepted in all courts of law, but it's certainly an intriguing development, and anything that can help put the bad guy behind bars is a welcome addition to forensics and law enforcement.
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