Solving Crimes Pioneers of Forensic Science

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Although there are numerous titles available that describe techniques used in modern forensic science, few do more than mention the significant pioneers in the field. Fridell documents the accomplishments of six men over the past century, from Parisian file clerk Alphonse Bertillon's system of measuring and recording the physical characteristics of criminals to British scientist Alec Jeffreys's development of "DNA fingerprinting." In the case of each individual, it is passion and persistence, often in the face of indifference or ridicule, that made the significant achievement possible. Technical terms, italicized in the text, are defined in a glossary. Most definitions are adequate when combined with contextual clues, but some are too minimal to be useful. For instance, "blood typing" is defined as "classifying a person's blood according to its blood type." Black-and-white photos, reproductions, and diagrams enhance the presentation and occasionally show some important aspects of the techniques under discussion. An annotated list of Internet addresses and the names and addresses of eight museums and exhibits in the United States offer opportunities for continued exploration of this fascinating field.-Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|