Kyuu Nye

A forensic scientist can be on the CSI team, but then they are acting as a crime scene investigator, not a forensic scientist. So, no, not usually.

That would only affect rigor mortis, not time of death estimates. Seeing as how initial time of death is preferably done by core liver temperature these says, exercising wouldn't make a difference. If rigor mortis was the only way to tell, then yes, it would be inaccurate, but not by a huge degree if 12 hours have passed. Actually... validity of evidence is determined by the court. The forensic scientists just analyze it.

There is already a case discussion thread here. Please always check for official discussion threads. Thank you.

On a scale of 1-10? 3... They do so much wrong, and so many impossible things. Which is why I prefer NCIS... At least they use proper programs to do analysis. Most of the analysis done in labs today are impossible by eye (a favorite of CSI), it may not look as impressive, but hey, its how it is done. I remember once in particular, a few years ago, they did an array of DNA to ID a suspect, and the main guy looked at the two and said that it was a match. Now let me put that into some perspective... This is a DNA array: Now do you really think that someone could look at two of those and say with any certainty that they were the same? Especially considering that the intensities of the various dots must be measured? Yeah, I don't think I could either.

The only show that is actually accurate is Forensic Files, and that is because they look at real cases. But the dramatized crime shows that people seem to love, CSI for instance, messes up the science horrible. NCIS is better, but still not perfect. No, forensic scientists do not perform autopsies. That responsibility is left up to the ME (Medical Examiner), though depending on the country they may have different names for it or different job specifications. In America however, all forensic autopsies in major cities are performed by a licensed medical doctor whom specializes in autopsies. And generally, though it is not always the case, the autopsy does determine the cause of death. However, in the cases that it doesn't not much can be done, unless there were strange circumstances that could lead to evidence. However anything during that investigation, unless it was murder, would be circumstantial and likely just guess work. As for what forensic scientists do, it depends on a few things... If we are talking criminalistics, then they perform ballistics tests (including comparative microscopy of the sample bullet), gunshot residue tests, fingerprint analysis, foot print analysis (taking molds, prints or any other method applicable, and comparing to a database of shoes and comparing to suspects shoes looking for identifying marks), sometimes blood splatter analysis and hair analysis (generally microscopic first). Generally forensic scientists in a crime lab do not perform toxicology or DNA testing. They can, but it is not often that they do. That said, MOST of the work in crime labs are DNA and toxicology testing. DNA testing is done in a DNA lab, and is usually a chain of work, so one person will take care of one aspect of the DNA analysis (there are several steps involved). DNA testing is actually one of the more arduous tasks in the lab too, because to isolate and compare DNA can take up to 8 hours of time or more depending on how the final analysis was done. Toxicology is the biggest part though. Toxicology labs get samples from everywhere from crime labs to coroner's offices. It is a requirement that a toxicology report be done on just about everyone upon death. They also do tests on the living for jobs that require it. Their job is to determine what drugs were or are in the system and to determine how much for how long (if possible to determine).

I felt compelled to make this thread after the latest file of DC. Basically the media creates several misconceptions about forensic science. I will take on the responsibility of correcting those misconceptions to the best of my ability. I have taken forensics courses before, I work in an analytical lab, and I have used many of the techniques you see in the movies and TV and know how they work, why they work, and how the media screwed it up (they always do). Now, I am not pretending to be a professional, but I do know a lot more than the average person and I do want people to know the real side of the field of forensics. Naturally if anyone else knows anything they can feel free to chime in and I'll link to the answers in this first post. My area of interest is Molecular Biology, but I have taken Criminalistics courses (the forensic science most commonly seen in TV), just to let everyone know. So ask whatever you want to know about Forensics, or if you want you can ask me how accurate something was in whatever show or movie (providing that I can watch it to see if it is accurate or not).

This proves that when scientists get bored... stand back... it could get dangerous.

This movie took a few steps in the right direction. It had its share of problems and a lot of those problems were from physics and certain assumptions... But it wasn't THAT bad. There was some plot holes, but nothing too too major. Overall if they continue in this direction we may actually get a legitimately good movie... eventually...

NO! That would be bad! The last thing we need is MORE attention to be called to DCTP and having the companies who have already found this place and requested a cease and desist to find DCTP and do the same.

Ok... At the end of the newest file... I can only think "No, Gosho is NOT doing that." If he is... it is SO CLICHED! I am REALLY hoping its not...

To those of you having problems opening it... I'll give you guys 3 options... http://www.videolan.org/ -- VLC Media Player. Plays EVERYTHING fairly well. It is easy and pretty fail safe. (And is able with all OSes) http://www.cccp-project.net/ -- CCCP Codec Pack, very popular. Comes with Media Player Classic and has all necessary codecs to play almost every if not every video file you may download. Downside... not updated all too often. Still works fine just the same. http://shark007.net/ -- Shark007 Codec Pack, Similar to CCCP only updated a bit more often. Once again comes with all codecs needed. Enjoy the movie guys. For the record I use CCCP and it works fairly well. My friend told me about Shark007 and that too works really well. So all three methods work, it is up to you which you want to use.

Yes

I find this highly entertaining and it fits FAR too well... EDIT: Next on Mythbusters... What happens when you cross a Pinky Pie with coffee? http://theartrix.deviantart.com/art/Today-on-Mythbusters-ponies-200939257

You mean to tell me that there are GOOD motives left in DC? I haven't seen one in ages!

Touche, there is only so much that I can know... I only assumed as much, and seeing as I was doing that from my phone, I say I did a decent job without doing research. Regardless its a Japanese word that has been integrated into the English language. Which means that it can still be pluralized according to the constructs of the English language. And besides, they don't explicitly pluralize words in Japanese, they suggest multiples though additional words. (like -tachi)