Forensics Use Bacteria in the Mouth to Estimate the Victim's Death

Scientists have developed a method to more accurately determine a person's death time by studying changes in their oral microbial communities. This article explains the key facts and context behind bacteria.

Key Facts About Bacteria

The researchers examined three donated corpses, one male and two female, from the University of Tennessee's Center for Anthropology, and tested their daily oral bacteria samples during the decomposition process.

Previous studies have shown that the oral cavity and gastrointestinal bacteria play an important role in human decomposition. The researchers conducted daily microbiome monitoring of the body that is decaying to identify taxa markers to improve accuracy when estimating a person's death time.

The study published in the Journal of Oral Microbiology shows that scientists have found similar changes in signs of bacteria taxa through the stages of body breakdown.

Dr. Joe Adserias-Garriga, the lead author of the study, said: "Microorganisms that live with us throughout life, play an important role in both health and disease. When dying and when too The decomposition process develops, the microbial communities change according to the newly established environmental conditions. Our aim is to use changes in microbiome to estimate the victim's downtime.