Improving Forensic Facial Reproduction Using Empirical Modeling & Forensic Resource Reference on Genetics

With this program in the Advancement in Forensic Anthropology seminar technological precision I learned of an approach for forensic facial reproduction that uses empirical modeling  during this session. The process of using a portion of the known landmarks traditionally accessed or facial reconstruction prediction, while also incorporating the effect of body mass index (BMI)  in the empirical model, will be described. Unlike current forensic facial reconstruction  techniques that use average facial tissue depths from a population sample of individuals, the  technique applied during the workshop session will use a non-parametric empirical model to  predict facial tissue depths that are unique to each cranium. This  technique also has potential to predict facial features like the eyes, nose, and ears. The purpose  will be to learn to use this technique to generate more accurate facial reconstructions, thus  improving forensic facial reconstruction by enhancing the accuracy of soft tissue thickness prediction.

The image I have inserted is an easy approach of how to understand the biological genetically modified aspect of how to better understand the skeletal remain-DNA compilation as well as how to easily use the DNA genome database. 

34 Landmarks Used by 3D-Identification

Initially, up to seventy-five landmarks were collected for each skull depending upon the condition of
the skull and the presence of any obvious pathology. A repeatability and digitizing error study carried
out as part of this project, however, showed that landmarks defined by remote structures or extremal
characteristics, such as euryon, and referred to as Bookstein's Type III landmarks, were difficult to determine reliably as points for coordinate collection (Ross and Williams, 2008). As a result, thirty-four of the original seventy-five selected landmarks were chosen for use by the program. All are Bookstein Type I (clear juxtapositions of tissues) or Type II (maxima of local curvature, e.g., cusps, invaginations, etc.) landmarks. I defined these terms in a way that I would be able to recognize them later for the projects I have been working on.


Abbreviations used in accompanying figures followed by their specific vectors:

• Left asterion - astl: Intersection of left parietal, left temporal, and occipital bones. If sutures are indistinct or include wormian bones, project suture lines until they intersect.

• Right asterion - astr: Intersection of right parietal, right temporal, and occipital bones. If sutures are indistinct or include wormian bones, project suture lines until they intersect.

• Basion - bas: The midline point of the anterior foramen magnum margin where it is intersected by the mid-sagittal plane. Directly opposite of the opisthion. In some cases, thickening of the 1 margin can make position location difficult to determine.

• Bregma - brg: The midline point where the sagittal and coronal sutures intersect. In cases where the intersection is interrupted, such as with fontanelle bones, the suture lines are projected.

• Left Dacryon - dacl:  Left eye orbit: point on the medial border where the frontal, lacrimal, and maxilla bones meet, also noted as the intersection of the lacrimo-maxillary suture and frontal bone. A small foramen is often present.

• Right Dacryon - dacr: Right eye orbit: point on the medial border where the frontal, lacrimal, and maxilla bones meet, also noted as the intersection of the lacrimo-maxillary suture and frontal bone. A small foramen is often present.

• Left Ectomalare - ecml: Left maxilla: positioned at the most lateral point on the lateral surface of the alveolar crest. Found along the second molar on the maxilla.

• Right Ectomalare - ecmr:  Right maxilla: positioned at the most lateral point on the lateral surface of the alveolar crest. Found along the second molar on the maxilla.

• Left Ectoconchion - ectl: Left eye orbit: intersection of the most anterior surface of lateral border and imaginary horizontal line bisecting the orbit.

• Right Ectoconchion - ectr: Right eye orbit: intersection of the most anterior surface of lateral border and imaginary horizontal line bisecting the orbit

• Left Frontomalare Anterior - fmal: Left side of skull: most anterior projecting point on the frontomalare suture (different from the frontomalar orbitale and temporale).

• Right Frontomalare Anterior - fmar: Right side of the skull: most anterior projecting point on the fronto-malare suture (different from the frontomalare orbitale and temporale).

• Left Frontomalare Temporale - fmtl: Left side of the skull: most lateral point on fronto-malare suture

• Right Frontomalare Temporale - fmtr: Right side of the skull: most lateral point on fronto-malare suture

• Glabella - glb:  Most projecting midline point on the frontal bone above frontonasal suture. In juveniles with forward vaulted foreheads the most projecting point may not be the glabella.

• Lambda - lam:  Point where sagittal and lambdoidal sutures meet. If wormian bones are present, project the suture lines to their intersection point.

• Left Mastoidale - mastl: Left mastoid process: point is located on the inferior end.

• Right Mastoidale - mastr: Right mastoid process: point is located on the inferior end.

• Nasion - nas: Midline intersection of the frontonasal suture and mid-sagittal plane.

• Left Lower Orbital Border - obhi: Lower border of the left eye orbit: Measured as the maximum height from the upper to the lower orbital borders perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the orbit and using the middle of the inferior border as a fixed point

• Right Lower Orbital Border - obhir:  Lower border of the right eye orbit: Measured as the maximum
• height from the upper to the lower orbital borders perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the orbit and using the middle of the inferior border as a fixed point.

• Left Upper Orbital Border - obhs: Upper left eye orbit: Upper border of the left eye orbit: Measured as the maximum height from the upper to the lower orbital borders perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the orbit and using the middle of the inferior border as a fixed point

• Right Upper Orbital Border - obhsr: Upper right eye orbit: Upper border of the roght eye orbit: Measured as the maximum height from the upper to the lower orbital borders perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the orbit and using the middle of the inferior border as a fixed point

• Opisthion - ops: Midline point of the posterior foramen magnum margin where the mid-sagittal plan intersects. Opposite of basion.

• Prosthion-Howells estimated pr /proHEST: Most anterior, midline point on the alveolar process of the maxilla between the central incisors.

• Supspinale - ssp: The deepest point of the profile below the anterior nasal spine.

• Left Nasomaxillary Suture Pinch - wnbl (simotic chord): Narrowest portion of the midline of the face to the left naso- maxillary suture. The minimum distance between wnbl-wnbr forms the simotic chord.

• Right Nasomaxillary Suture Pinch - wnbr (simotic chord): Narrowest portion of the midline of the face to the right naso-maxillary suture. The minimum distance between wnbl-wnbr forms the simotic chord.

• Left Zygion - zygl: Left zygomatic: most lateral point on the zygomatic arch. (Point is determined by measuring bizygomatic breadth)

• Left Zygomaxillare - zygoml: Left side of skull: intersection of zygomaxillary suture and most medial masseter muscle attachment.

• Right Zygomaxillare - zygomr: Right side of skull: intersection of zygomaxillary suture and most medial masseter muscle attachment.

• Left Zygoorbitale - zygool: Left eye orbit: point of intersection between zygomaxillary suture and eye orbit.

• Right Zygoorbitale - zygoor: Right eye orbit: point of intersection between zygomaxillary suture and orbit border.

• Right Zygion - zygr: Right zygomatic: most lateral point on the zygomatic arch. (Point is determined by measuring bizygomatic breadth)

Cranial Reconstruction of a Victim

This weekend at Rancho Cucamonga's Forensic Science Academy Club between 10:00-15:30 I attended a lecture that focused on cranial reconstructions and using 3D imaging in order to compute a phenotype more appealing "face" of an individual once the complete facial reconstruction has been glued together. Yes, all of these small pieces of artificial bone will be glued like Forensic Anthropologists do it: Elmer's Glue.

 My Mother commented on what my service learning mentors wanted me to do with these cranial bones, "good luck!" I'll need it for sure! It's my first time doing such an experiment, and I will keep in touch on my progress to show how difficult and time consuming this process really is.

This was the skeletal catalog I received, it can easily be suggested that the cranial I received is not necessarily the same size of a normal Homo sapiens sapiens individual since it contains a much smaller cranial capacity and contains smaller teeth which suggest a more youthful age range.

My main goals with this cranial reconstruction is being able to estimate ancestral background by using the cranial landmarks on the posterity angle of the cranium. By using the intermediate/straight/ or projecting face profile of the remains, I will be able to determine if the individual is of Asian/African/or White (including Latin-American descent).

To pose more of a challenge I will be using my EQ of "What is the most important factor of a skeletal remain in a criminal investigation?" I will be using my answers and attempting to apply them in this situation.

• Determining if the skeletal remains are in fact of forensic significance based on the presence of trauma.
• Determining the horizontal excavation layer in which the remains were found in order to determine the possible time of death
• Matching a weapon or natural component that was left as a striation of the remains because of the fact that DNA or lethal vectors need to match to an object used to succeed in the cause of death and match trauma-mortem

I will update my blog accordingly as I pose a "challenge considered" and "challenge accepted" to this cranial reconstruction.

Research Check 15

(Source: 32)
Title: Forensic Anthropology: Cranial Suture Scoring Sites
Author: Buikstra Ubelaker
Source: College of the Redwoods
Pages: 1-6

L: There are specific regulations and protocols one must follow when scoring composite score sites based on the evidence of any ectocranial closure on the site.
I: The assessment clearly suggests that there is a marker of degree based on the moderate, mild, and intermediate closure that has been established from this analysis.

L: When obtaining an age estimate from the hard palate sutures must be of the hard palate and scored essentially across the entire length. The left incisive suture should be scored rather than the right if both segments are observable.
I: I was wondered the hearth of the little white adhesive markers on the ones and there congruency with other models I have studied and have worked its in archaeology and in the forensic science academy club meetings.

L: When observing the endocranial sutures the skul must be fully complete in the level of maturity and biologically composed of the essential components of complete adulthood.
I: It makes sense how the skull must be complete since anterior views can be observed indirectly by use of a small of a small flashlight and are closures in their preordinated stages of life.

(Source: 33)
Title: Measuring Adult Human Remains

Author: Moore Jansen
Source: College of the Redwoods
Pages: 1-4



L: The intersection of the most anterior surface of the lateral border of the orbit and a line bisecting the orbit along its axis.
I: So there is a quite a challenge when marking the ectoconchion Which is by using a small instrumental flat panel like a toothpick which prevents damages, but an excellent analysis.

L: The maximum breadth across the alveolar borders of the maxilla measured on the lateral surface at the location of the second maxillary molars require the use of an instrument similar to that of a spreading caliper when defining cranial nd postcranial measurements.
I: The point of the measurements are customarily not found on the alveolar processes, but are located the bony segment above thesecondmaxillary molars.

L: The practice of using the vertical inferior diameter of the mid shaft is far more superior of any other method of identifying sexual traits of the Jane Doe#0000.
I: The fact that there is a superior and elitist method of identifying suggest the gentle application of pressure ozone or two fingers that may have a possibility of fracturing evidence and remains.

(Source: 34)
Title: Forensic Anthropology Ancestry Analysis

Author: April Garwin
Source: College of the Redwoods
Pages: 1-3


L: Holding the skull gently, you can assess a facial profile by using the anterior nasal spine and aperture. Y hitting a pencil through the alveolar area of the mouth and depending on the closure you can assess accordingly.
I: The Caucasoid-Negroidal assessment of the orthognathous area rather unprofessional alert ray remark of the ancestral background and profiling a mistaken individual since mixual ancestryhasbeen long occurring.


L: If the eye orbitals are rounded, examine the top border to see if it is at a level or if it's slopes are lateral. 
I: In an anterior perspective this can conduct and produce false suggestions and facts that canbe obtained from the remains. This will require exterior and interior use of the nasal cavities as well in order to have convincing data.

L: A primary trait of overlooking an act of faulplay is observing the nasal overgrowth of the nasal bones in a lateral, exterior view. The overgrowth of the nose area will be present in the skull if the interior ends of the mask bones are overhang in comparison to the superior edge of the nasal cavity. 
I: In some cases African biochemistry suggests that they are very dam and in present which can result in a warned description unless a demonstration of several high credentialed individuals are performing the analysis.

Advancements in Forensic Anthropology

Seminar Session 1: The Concept of “Race”: A Forensic Anthropological Perspective on Human Variation

This is a first schematic lecture of the idea of racial groups in terms of the use in Forensic Anthropological reasoning.

The connection I have made from the seminar with my senior topic and E.Q. is:

• When we are looking at ancestral groups, we're looking at origins, or geographic origins of populations.
• Phenotypes and geographical expansion over a period of time suggest the formation of the skeletal remains.
• Anthropologically speaking we must assess race because we can estimate a person's ancestry to a specificity by visually seeing in the cranifacial region of the skull.
• Subdividing ethnic groups such as Hispanic like Puerto Rican and Cuban can contain African and European ancestry. Distinct cultures can be teased out and be assesses accordingly.
• Mongoloid, Negroid, and Caucasoid are the three types of main three areas that individuals are grouped into in schemes of intellectual ideas that were later discontinued due to negative connotations to skeletal conformity.
• When you are doing a forensic case it is good to know your demographics of your area if you know you have a heavy origin of incorporation in thought process.
• Ethno-historical regions such as Mexico contain biological factors that are indigenous, in Cuba you have Afro-European characteristics, whereas Honduras contain a different type of Native American and indigenous phenomenological, characteristically traits.
• Using geometric morphometrics you can look at the different populations and see a connection of distinct population relationships and the average distinctiveness between each cluster.
•  Mexico and Ecuador are very similar in morphological remains based on the travels between the coastal region in prehistoric and historic times.
• Amalgamations of different traits show that signs of protostylid vary through wideness based on geographical location in the magnitude of longitudinal base.
• Cranial landmarks contain complex sutures in Asian/Indigenous Ancestry of the South Americas by having wormian bones in the lower cranial asymmetrical vaults.
• In Asian countries, individuals have shovel-shaped incisors in their teeth.
• European/African individuals have spatulate-shaped incisors.
• European-Asians contain molar cusp pattern that is rather smooth.
• Africans have molar cusp pattern which are cronulate in the center.
• The complex sutures are actually a reflection of cultural feature by being biologically enduced. 
• European/Asians have no depression in their intersecting bragmatic area.
• Application of multivariate statistical methods to set defined linear distances in order to utilize cranial and postcranial material of the individual.

Blog 22: Answer 3

1. What is answer 1 to your EQ? Be specific in your answer and write it like a thesis statement.

Answer 1 to my EQ "What is the most important factor of a skeletal remain in a criminal investigation?" is matching a weapon or natural component that was left as a striation of the remains because of the fact that DNA or lethal vectors need to match to an object used to succeed in the cause of death and match trauma mortem.

2. What possible evidence do you have to support this answer?

Possible evidence that I have to support this answer includes:

According to Kristina Killgrove PhD of the University of North Carolina, who was my fourth interview due to her experience in the science field of biological anthropology with an emphasis on human osteology. After observing her work tat she has done that has been documented in many  of her cases certain variables must be isolated to match the fracture angle, clusters, rust, and any DNA that can be found, obtained, and then analysed from the weapon. DNA or lethal vectors need to match to an object used in order to succeed in the vectors of finding out the cause of death.

According to Terri Armenta the advisory and head chief of the Forensic Science Academy Club, where I perform my service learning, in cases where facial reconstructions are performed, you can actually begin to acknowledge to entail what the weapon can become; from an individuals chocking hands to a pickax as a blunt force trauma, anything can be possible in a crime.

According to Dr William R. Maples, author of "Dead Men do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating Cases of a Forensic Anthropologist" natural components that can leave striations within the bone include animal teeth (including those of humans) He has detailed in cases where carnivorous monkeys feed off of deceased individuals of war as well as observing cases of cannibalism even though they have detrimental effects to the human development of the brain.

3. What source(s) did you find this evidence and/or answer?
Sources that I found my evidence and answer include:

Source from Kristina Killgrove is from her work at the Resource of Archaeology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina. Working in collaboration with the American Board of Physical Anthropologists, Dr Killgrove has created an excellent advancement in the field of anthropology by all of her evidence-heavy lab work that she has worked in over the past fifteen years of her study suggests that a match must be presented in order for the jury or judge of the trial to be fully convinced of the evidence that an individual accused is guilty or not guilty of said charges.

Source from Terri Armenta is a PhD creditworthy forensic scientists who is in charge of the Forensic Science Academy along side with my personal trainer forensic anthropologist Ashlee Enriquez. Dr Armenta can with this conclusion of knowing the range of trauma the weapons can range from in order to understand that any object can be considered lethal and anything can actually in essence, be part of the cause of death in certain situations among mass grave murders and Holocaust cases.

Source Dr William r. Maples PhD in Physical Anthropology with an emphasis in Criminology stated in his book and various interviews during his lifetime. Working in the field for over his entire life, focused on understanding the possibilities of what striations are left in-printed onto the bone struct-ion and be able to come into conclusions of what had occurred. Among finding the angle, the fact that natural resources such as animal decomposition inhibitors play a role, their effect is often overlooked but actually observed in a lab state to know all of the profiling that can be established of the individual.    

Blog 21: 3-Column Chart

The link is a Google Docs file view of my 3-column chart that can also be found under my "Research" category: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnHWfOKCFVl3dHoxUTdCTThhdU9haHU1RjRqUEhQSVE#gid=1