Forensic Science

Branches of Forensic Science

Almost any science can be a forensic science because almost any science can contribute to solving a crime or evaluating a civil harm. In fact, with few exceptions, forensic sciences are no different in what they study than traditional sciences. The only difference is that forensic scientists apply the methods and techniques of established sciences to legal matters. For example, modern forensic DNA typing uses methods commonly employed by molecular biologists and geneticists to study chromosomes, genes, and DNA. The only difference is that forensic DNA typing is done on evidence from crimes or other legally scrutinized areas, such as disputed paternity.

Although it seems that all sciences are potentially forensic sciences, certain sciences often play an important role in the courts. One useful list of branches of forensic science can be gleaned from the divisions of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. They list the following as their main sections: anthropology, criminalistics, engineering, general, jurisprudence, odontology, pathology/biology, psychiatry/behavioral science, questioned documents, and toxicology. The “general” section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, is more or less a catchall for disciplines that are not covered in the other sections. A short description of each of the other main areas of forensic science follows.