Formal Lab Report for BIOA01

UTSC Journal of Forensic Botany

2014; 1(1): 1-6                 

               Solving a case using forensic botany

Authors: (Principal author), ^1, Author’s Name (), ^1, Author’s Name (), ^1, Author’s Name (), ^1, Author’s Name ().

1Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada

UTSC BIOA01 Lab PRA# BENCH# 5SEAT#

PRA TA:

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Abstract

The objective of the research conducted is to prove whether the death of Roger T. Peterson is a crime or an accident using sunflower seeds. The original hypothesis that Roger was murdered was proven invalid as the cops found two different sunflower seeds from both the suspect and victim. This case will be solved by examining the seed evidence and using statistical analysis.

Key words: Forensic botany, sunflower seeds, statistical analysis.

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Introduction

           

            Forensic botany is a growing area in which plant materials like seeds, fruits etc can be used as evidence in solving crimes(Rush, Gladilina 2014). Now-a-days botanical evidences are used extensively in the field of criminal investigation. They contribute considerable sustaining proof to the case. Everything from a tiny fragment of leaf to seeds can be used to solve crimes (Thompson 2013). In this lab report the case of Roger T. Peterson who was found dead near his pet shop will be solved with the help of the sample of sunflower seeds found beside his dead body. It will be solved by examining seed evidence and using statistical analysis to determine whether there has been a crime or simply a tragic accident. The purpose of this lab report is to use sunflower seeds to solve this. In today’s world there are plenty of crimes going on and many of them are left unsolved. Using forensic botany many of these crimes can be easily proven. Like the example given in the lab manual, any hard cases can be easily proven. Thus may mysteries can be solved like the one that will be solved by the end of this lab report. Sunflower, which has a larger size and lower oil content, has a considerable market, since it is used for birdfeed and human consumption (Karina, Rodriguez 2014) . Sunflower seeds which is used for mainly oil and food is used I this experiment to prove the proof.

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Materials and Methods

For the collection of the data the students were divided into groups of 10, each consisting 2-3 people. Half of the class analyzes the victim seeds and the other half analyzes the suspect seeds. A top- loading balance was used to weight the seeds, both suspect and victim, to find out whether it is used for human consumption or it is used as a pet food to solve the mystery. A ruler was used to measure the length, width, height of the seeds. Both these measurements were written down on our lab manual first and this data collected was transferred into an excel file as part of the data collection (Rush, Glagilina and Condy). After it was transferred to excel we found the volume of the seeds, average length, width, depth and height and standard deviation to compare between the suspect and the victim seeds.

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Results

            Using the measurements from the lab, the volume of the seeds, the average of the length, width, depth, height and volume and also the standard deviation and the variance was found. By comparing both the suspect and the victim seeds and from the conclusion from the t-test the H₀ is rejected. Here the volumes of the suspect seeds are almost the double as the volume of the victim. Also the length, width depth and height of the suspect seeds are comparatively bigger than the victim seeds. Thus we can conclude that the suspects seeds are consumed by humans and the victim’s seeds are for the birds.  Therefore this death is “a tragic accident”.

Table 1: In this table the values and comparisons of the sunflower seeds of both suspect and victim is given. From this table, we can understand that both the seeds differ in measurements where one is short and other one is bigger and longer.

	Suspect (Volume)	Victim (Volume)	Length (mm)		Width (mm)		Depth (mm)
			victim	suspect	Victim	Suspect	Victim	Suspect
n	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	50
Critical t- value	1.984	1.984	1.984	1.984	1.984	1.984	1.984	1.984
Calculated t- value	6.218	4.749	7.242		7.412		2.5239
Df	98	98	98		98		98
Actual p- value	P- value < critical t -value	P- value < critival t -value	P- value < critival t -value		P- value < critival t -value		P- value < critival t -value

Volumes

Suspect	Victim
320.7915165	158.0153231

Figure 1: This graph represents the volumes of suspect and victim seeds. Here the volume of the suspect seeds is almost the double as victim. This shows that the suspect seeds are consumed by humans and the victim seeds are given to birds. Thus we can conclude that his death was a tragic accident.

Figure 2 : This graph shows the comparison of weight, length, width and depth of victim and suspect seeds. Here it is shown that the size of the victim seed is lesser than the size of the suspect seed. This clearly shows that the suspect seeds are consumed by humans and the victim seeds are given to birds.

Discussion

            From the interpretation of the results it can be concluded that the death of Roger is a terrible accident and not a murder. When analyzed the graphs it is shown that the suspect’s seeds are usually consumed by humans. Also the suspect has the habit of eating sunflower weeds. But the sunflower seeds found beside the victim is comparatively smaller than the other one. Those seeds are usually used to feed birds. It is also said in the news report that “Filling the birdfeeder with sunflower weeds” (Rush 2014). This shows that there is a chance that when the victim was feeding birds he might have tripped from the ladder and fall down. Thus this makes it obvious that the victim’s death was an accident.

Now-a-days botanical evidences are used extensively in the field of criminal investigation. They contribute considerable sustaining proof to the case. Everything from a tiny fragment of leaf, fruits, stem or seeds can be used to solve crimes (Thompson 2013).  In this scenario also we use this method to prove if the victim’s death was a murder or an accident. We can see that any crime can be solved with the help of forensic botany.  Sunflower and its seeds have a large market since it is used as a birdfeed and also for human consumption (Karina 2014). Since this was important point in proving victim’s death.

References

Primary Sources

Rush S., E. Gladilina and C. Condy. 2014. BIOA01F –Life on earth: unifying principles- lab manual for Fall 2014. Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Scarborough Printing Services: 54-58.

Secondary Sources

Ken Thompson. 2013. The Telegraph. Why Plants can be the key to solving crimes. UK

Isabella Aqilla., Fransesco Ausania.. 2014. Journal of Forensic sciences. The Role of Forensic Botany in Crime Scene Investigation: Case Report and Review of Literature. Toronto Ontario

Ana Karina., Rodriguez… 2014. Analysis of the Performance of a Dehulling System for Confectionary Sunflower Seeds. Toronto, Ontario