This video describes a work of the body farm. This institution was created by the doctor from the University of Tennessee almost 25 years ago. The farm is an open study room for American criminal investigators. Here experts can study how human bodies decay under different conditions. The farm is a useful project for criminalists and canine handlers who train dogs to search for bodies. Right now institution has about 400 bodies, which were donated for medical researches. Here experts use both whole corpses and their parts already used by medical students.
Video has several examples how the body farm helped to solve crimes. Forensic entomologist could prove that the women killed her mother with the help of blow flies. Signs of insects’ activity can say scientists when exactly the person died. This ability helped to solve the case of family’s murder. Scientists and students study the impact of different factors on bodies. There was an example where Ph. D. student burned body parts to see how tissues would act in flames. Bones shows how fracture patterns change because of different temperatures and other impacts, like cold water from the fire hose. Scientists add information from farm researches to the database that can be used during real investigations. Corpses are used in the farm even when there is no flesh on them. Experts use skeletons to study marks on bones made by different tools. Students can use skulls to practice in clay facial reconstruction. Farm has photos of donors, so it is possible to check are there any mistakes in restored image.
Body farm plays a key role in forensic sciences, like forensic anthropology or entomology. Here scientists can document all stages of body’s decomposition under controlled conditions. At the end of the video there was a study where author checked how clothes influence body’s decay. The institution is an important part in crime solving, because it helps experts to understand processes in dead bodies and use this knowledge to find criminals.
Works Cited
Brandonmeshok. “National Geographic. Secrets of the body farm / Разложение тел.”. Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2013. 31 Jan. 2016.
