This research aimed to reduce the gap in information regarding the impact of genetics in forensic entomology, which is important because t forensic entomologists rely on estimates of the age of blow flies on a corpse to determine time of death. Understanding the consequences of genetic variation is an important step in reducing error rates. The research shows that natural genetic variation has the potential to drive average development-time differences of up to 6 days at 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Although the time difference occurred in a controlled experiment rather than a natural environment over time, it does indicate that genetic variation influences blow fly development time. Temperature is also likely to have a role in development time. The project is currently investigating the nature of thermal plasticity in the selected lines of blow flies. Results from the selection experiment indicate that there is potential for thermal interactions with development-time genotypes and that these are likely to influence other traits, including size, which is forensically informative.
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Experimental Results on Data Analysis Algorithms for Extracting and Interpreting Edge Feature Data for Duct Tape and Textile Physical Fit Examinations
- Technical Note – Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Photo Diode Array Ultraviolet Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA UV-MS)
- Development of Portable Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanosensors for Ultrasensitive Characterization of Drugs in Human Biofluids