BIOL 320 Research Project Resubmission

.docx

School

University of Maryland, Baltimore County *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

320

Subject

Biology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

7

Uploaded by nnekaboo

Report
1 University of Maryland Global Campus BIOL 320 Forensic Biology Professor Damon Burman April 12, 2022
2 Introduction The study of toxicology is a branch of science that studies poison and, more so, the harmful effects of chemicals, substances, and environmental conditions on humans, animals, and the environment. Forensic toxicology is a discipline of study that uses toxicology's concepts and understanding for use in the field of law. Analytical chemistry techniques are integrated with toxicological principles to address issues linked to the harmful effects of chemicals on people relevant to judicial procedures. Analytical chemistry is the science of determining the identification and relative quantities of unknown components in a sample of matter (Adatsi, 2005). As a result, forensic toxicology entails using correct chemical or analytical procedures to detect and classify any unknown compounds in biological systems and investigating their harmful effects on humans. Tasks and Purpose The toxicology unit tests samples collected during investigations and interprets the results for judicial use. The analyzers employ a variety of instruments and procedures, including gas and liquid chromatography, gel electrophoreses, and ECG/EKG/EEG machines. Toxicology testing includes forensic toxicology testing, which is performed postmortem, and clinical toxicology, which include everything from workplace drug testing to athletic drug tests to detect performance-enhancing drugs. Drug treatment centers and medico-legal professionals receive guidance and lectures from this team. This unit also offers advice and does substance tests for the general public. After blood and urine tests for alcohol and other substances, this team maintains the departments' intoximeter instruments. Toxicological analyzers look for biological fluids and conduct DNA tests on the tissues and fluids they find. They are also in charge of assessing tests on unidentified powders, tablets, plant materials, and fluids to discover if any illegal drugs are
3 present, as mandated by law. Other duties of this unit include expert witness testimony in lab cases, presumptive and confirmatory testing, as well as upholding the proper chain of custody of evidence. They may also be in charge of assessing bloodstain patterns, which entails identifying and classifying blood based on its origin, flight trajectories, force, and sequence. Tasks of a toxicology lab includes identifying and determining the presences of any substances gathered from biological samples of urine, blood, or tissues ("Toxicology," 2021); this can be done alone or in combination with other labs. Law enforcement and the court system also use evidence to assess whether it is necessary to file criminal charges ("Toxicology," 2021). There are many roles required of forensic toxicologists; the most important are analysis, reporting, and interpretation. The analysis is the detection, identification, and quantification of drugs and chemicals found in biological samples; reporting is the presentation of the results; and interpretation is the provision of deriving the meaning of a detected substance (Ensuring high standards of laboratory performance 2002). Forensic toxicology duties typically involve testing for the presence of hazardous gases, illegal or therapeutic medicines, poisons, liquor, metals or elements, and other toxic compounds. Their responsibilities might include testing samples from criminal cases, and after their analytical reports are complete, they could testify in court about it. Therefore, the hiring, training, the proper equipment maintenance and repair, accommodations, and security must all meet the efficiency and accuracy of a safe working environment to ensure that all forensic toxicology labs' analytical goals are followed to the letter (Ensuring high standards of laboratory performance 2002).
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
  • Access to all documents
  • Unlimited textbook solutions
  • 24/7 expert homework help