Post by ali on Jun 15, 2008 5:24:07 GMT -5
I am unable to stop thinking about some mistakes about forensic anthropology I noticed in Cold Case (I'm studying for the anthropology's exam).
But even the best things are not perfects: I think it can be interesting knowing what's wrong in our favorite show. I guess.
Episode 1x09 Sherry Darlin
This isn't an error, but only an imprecision.
Skull's sutures are completely closed up from the age of 50-60 years old (the victim was more elderly, about 80, and the age range is quite large), but it depends on many factors: sometimes a precocious synostosis (the osseous union between bones) can alter the biologic age of 20 years. To determine the age at death is necessary to consider other indicators, like the teeth usury, the morphology of the pubic synphysis, and so on.
Episode 1x06 Volunteers
Lilly can see the gender of a skeleton in two seconds: she's a genius!
However, she says something wrong: pelvic bones are a very good gender indicator (with a close attention study), but the shoe size...there also are women with big feet!
Episode 3x09 A Perfect Day
Stillman: It was a kid's
Frannie: Female, probably white, 3 to 5 years old.
This is science fiction: it's impossible determinate the sex of a so young child. The difference between men and women are visible only from the puberty.
It's strange that Frannie can understand the sex and she's hesitant about the ethnicity (that is less impossible to define).
Lilly: Back then they didn't have facial reconstruction technology. We do.
Will: So we create a picture of what the victim could have looked like off the skull.
Unfortunately, the facial reconstruction of a kid is impossible, because the physique isn't formed: this technology is used with subjects from the age of 30 (when they are completely formed).
I know, I'm fussy and that's my worse flaw.
But even the best things are not perfects: I think it can be interesting knowing what's wrong in our favorite show. I guess.
Episode 1x09 Sherry Darlin
Stillman: What about her age?
Rush: Sutures on the skull are closed up. She was elderly.
Rush: Sutures on the skull are closed up. She was elderly.
This isn't an error, but only an imprecision.
Skull's sutures are completely closed up from the age of 50-60 years old (the victim was more elderly, about 80, and the age range is quite large), but it depends on many factors: sometimes a precocious synostosis (the osseous union between bones) can alter the biologic age of 20 years. To determine the age at death is necessary to consider other indicators, like the teeth usury, the morphology of the pubic synphysis, and so on.
Episode 1x06 Volunteers
Lilly: One male... one female.
Scotty: How can you tell that?
Lilly: Pelvic bones. Shoe size.
Scotty: How can you tell that?
Lilly: Pelvic bones. Shoe size.
Lilly can see the gender of a skeleton in two seconds: she's a genius!
However, she says something wrong: pelvic bones are a very good gender indicator (with a close attention study), but the shoe size...there also are women with big feet!
Episode 3x09 A Perfect Day
Stillman: It was a kid's
Frannie: Female, probably white, 3 to 5 years old.
This is science fiction: it's impossible determinate the sex of a so young child. The difference between men and women are visible only from the puberty.
It's strange that Frannie can understand the sex and she's hesitant about the ethnicity (that is less impossible to define).
Lilly: Back then they didn't have facial reconstruction technology. We do.
Will: So we create a picture of what the victim could have looked like off the skull.
Unfortunately, the facial reconstruction of a kid is impossible, because the physique isn't formed: this technology is used with subjects from the age of 30 (when they are completely formed).
I know, I'm fussy and that's my worse flaw.
