Forsensic science

Explain how the pathologist could use the core temperature of the body and
the ambient temperature to make this estimate more accurate.

1. idea that (drop in) core temperature is related to time after

death ;
2. idea that the drop in core temperature depends on
ambient temperature ;
3. idea of using a {calibration / cooling} curve ;
4. idea that temperature affects rigor mortis ;
5. idea that evidence can be combined ;

State one other factor that could affect the pathologist’s estimate. Explain
how this factor could affect the estimate.

1. stated factor and effect on {heat loss / body temperature /

drop in temperature} ;
2. idea of more heat loss gives an under-estimate
OR idea of less heat loss gives an over-estimate ;
ACCEPT any of the following factors that reduce heat loss:
clothing / eq
{large / fat} person / high BMI
body { curled up / buried / in water / covered / in still air / in
humid conditions / eq}
{body temperature / fever / eq} (at time of death)
ACCEPT any of the following factors that increases heat loss:
(large) wounds / (lots of) bleeding /eq
body moved from a cooler area / eq
OR
3. {activity / exercise / eq} (at time of death) ;
4. Less ATP / speeds up rigor (mortis) / over-estimate / eq ;

Forensic entomologists use information on insect life cycles to estimate the time
of death. The hister beetle is an insect that may be found on a body.
The life cycle of this beetle consists of five stages:
● egg
● first instar larva
● second instar larva
● pupa
● adult beetle.
The time taken for each of these stages depends on temperature.
Describe an investigation that could be carried out to study the effect of
temperature on each of these stages.

1. idea of using a range of temperatures ;

2. in a {water bath / incubator} ;
3. idea that timing starts when a new stage of life cycle
appears ;
4. and ends when the next stage appears ;
5. idea that several organisms should be used at each
temperature ;
6. idea of providing food for organism ;
7. reference to appropriate controlled variable e.g. humidity, mass
of food, species ;
8. idea that total length of life cycle can be{measured directly

Explain why the pathologist inserted the temperature probe into the liver
immediately

1. idea that probe inserted in to liver to record core temperature ;

2. idea that the closer to death the temperature taken the more
accurate the estimate of the time of death ;
3. idea of (core) temperature dropping (with time after death) ;
4. idea of heat loss from body ;
5. idea that a change in {conditions / named example} will affect rate
of temperature drop ;

Explain how additional information about the insects and the body can be used to
determine the time of death of this mammal.

1. idea of using the life cycle stage of the insects as these will
change with time after death ;
2. idea of using the state of decomposition as the changes occur
in a certain order / eq;
3. idea of using { ambient / environmental / eq } temperature as
the rate of { insect development / decomposition / rigor / core
temperature / eq } depends on temperature ;
4. because (core / ambient) temperature affects enzyme activity
/ eq ;
5. idea of using { core / body / eq } temperature as this changes
with time after death ;
6. idea of using extent of rigor ;
7. idea of using the effect of { position / covering / size / eq } on
body temperature;
8. idea of combining several pieces of information to arrive at
estimate ;
When the dead cubs were discovered, there were adult blow flies on their bodies and blow
fly eggs in their wounds. why some of the eggs were preserved in alcohol.
idea that they could be examined at a later stage ;
prevent decomposition

Suggest why some of the blow fly eggs were incubated with bear liver.

1. so that the {maggots / flies} could be identified / eq ;

2. (bear liver) used to provide (appropriate) food for the maggots / eq ;

Suggest why all the eggs do not hatch at the same time.
time that the eggs were laid
species of blow fly
genotypes / genetic diversity / genetic make up / alleles
metabolic rates
development rate of egg
temperature (ambient / each bear / body parts)
length of life cycle

Explain why the time taken for the eggs to hatch is dependent on the temperature.

1. idea that time taken to hatch depends on {metabolic reactions /

respiration / rate of development / eq };
2. increase in temperature increases rate of {enzyme activity / metabolic
reactions } ;
3. credit detail of how an increase in temperature increases rate of
enzyme activity ;
e.g. more {collisions / energetic
collisions / enzyme-substrate
complexes formed} / increase in
kinetic energy

Explain why the actual time of death could only be an estimate.

1. idea that the scientists did not know how dark it was before
blow flies stop laying eggs ;
2. idea that the body temperature drops after death ;
3. idea that the ambient temperature changes (between time of death
and when the scientists measured it) ;
4. idea that {there is a range of hatching times / do not know when the
eggs were laid / there were different species of blow fly} ;
Explain why it is necessary to use several pieces of information to determine the time of
death of an organism

1. (idea that determining) time of death is influenced by a number of

factors ;
2. gives a more accurate estimate of time of death / to narrow the
time of death down / eq ;

Explain why the information is needed to calculate the time of death of this body.

1. idea of decrease in body temperature ;

2. idea that ambient temperature affects the change in body
temperature / eq ;
3. idea that (body / ambient) temperature affects {other
parameters / named parameter} (used to estimate time of
death) ;
4. {heavier / larger body} will lose heat slower / eq ;
5. because {surface area is smaller/ fat is a (heat) insulator /
eq} ;
6. the time of making the measurements is needed to work
backwards from / eq ;
7. a naked body will lose heat faster / eq ;
8. credit suitable explanation relating to a named location;
9. idea that several pieces of information are used (to
estimate time of death) ;