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3500 BCE
Animal autopsies
Mesopotamians performed autopsies on animals hoping to communicate with divine forces, unaware that what they were doing would one day be performed on humans, but also a key part in solving crimes. -
44 BCE
Earliest recorded autopsy
Julius Caesar's autopsy was the first to ever be recorded, which occurred after he was stabbed 23 times. His autopsy was the blueprint for a great method of investigating crimes - investigating the victim and looking for clues. -
1247
First crime solved by forensic entomology
The earliest known case of using insect evidence comes from China in medieval times. The bugs can sense blood evidence that ultimately helps solve crimes, similarly to what we've learned about looking for blood residue that is invisible to the naked human eye. In a book written by a Chinese lawyer, he describes a crime in which someone had been slashed with a tool and the insects were able to find the murder weapon that had blood on it. -
Arsenic test
In the year 1832, James Marsh creates the first test that can be used to detect the poison arsenic. This was a very important advancement since arsenic was practically undetectable due to its lack of smell and characteristics. Since it essentially untraceable, this was an incredible discovery. -
First bullet comparison
In the first bullet comparison that was performed, the bullet had a small flaw that led investigators back to the bullet's mold, then back to the buyer who ended up shooting the bullet. Bullet comparison is very important because it can identify and help convict killers. -
Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle came out with his fictional character Sherlock Homes, who ended up having a major impact on forensic science. He promoted looking for evidence and clues in order to prove a criminal, instead of torturing innocent people until they confessed. This was one of if not the most important advancements in forensics. -
Fingerprints made a name for themselves
Fingerprints made an official name for themselves as forensic evidence. This was important because they could now convict people if they left fingerprint evidence at a crime scene. -
Different blood types discovered
ABO, the human blood types were discovered by Karl Landsteiner. This was an advancement that would help with blood classification and help narrow down suspects in an investigation. Also, allowed for new knowledge about safer blood transfusions. -
First academic curriculum for forensics
In Switzerland, the first academic curriculum was made for forensic science, which helped people learn more about the practice and expand their knowledge. It also made the idea of forensics more popular and spread the word about new discoveries. This was an important advancement. -
DNA evidence certified
The National Academy of Sciences declared that DNA evidence was reliable evidence and could be used in court. This was huge because if someone's DNA is at a crime scene it is undeniable facts that said person was at or involved with the crime. DNA evidence also can rule out people from being suspects and free innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted.