Article on Use of Animal Models Posted to NIJ Website

Go to https://nij.gov/topics/forensics/evidence/pathology/Pages/value-of-nonhuman-animal-models-in-forensic-decomposition-research.aspxto read "The Value of Nonhuman Animal Models in Forensic Decomposition Research,” a new article posted to the National Institute of Justice website. 

The science of human decomposition is built on research done on dogs, pigs and a wide range of other animal species. Researchers recognized that problems may arise when data derived from animal studies is applied to explain decomposition phenomena in forensic casework of human remains. The NIJ-supported researchers compared decomposition processes in the bodies of five humans, five domestic pigs and five domestic rabbits in three separate seasonal trials to determine whether nonhuman animals could make a suitable proxy for humans. Results from the study indicated significant differences in the decomposition process, leading to conclusions about the use of nonhuman animal models in human decomposition research.