Category Archives: Snapshots

Random things about us

Laboratory Tour

Snapshots

Since we’re conducting our skeletal analyses at Texas State University, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about the amazing laboratories we’re working in this week.  At Texas State there are three laboratories in the Forensic Anthropology Center.

Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF)
FARF is an outdoor decomposition research facility that consists of about 26 acres of land. Students and other forensic science researchers conduct research projects here using donated bodies to learn more about rates of decomposition and methods to estimate time since death. Providing time since death to law enforcement is an important aspect of the job of a forensic anthropologist and can provide valuable information in a criminal investigation.  When I first walked into FARF, I was shown a small scatter of bones. Dr. Spradley explained that vulture scavenging is common in South Texas. A group of vultures can reduce a body to bone in several hours and then scatter the bones. Several researchers have conducted studies here on this topic. When you walk around this facility, you are likely to see multiple cages of different sizes. Each cage contains a body and is part of a research project. The cages are mostly used to keep out scavenging animals, but different cages serve different purposes and aid in someone’s research. For example, the cages covered in green mesh were set up to keep bugs and insects out. There are also weather stations in FARF that record temperature, precipitation, and humidity levels, so that researchers can see how these variables impact decomposition. FARF is an excellent resource for students and researchers to use.

Green mesh cage outside in a field
Green mesh cage

Osteology Research and Processing Laboratory (ORPL)
After FARF, donated bodies go to ORPL to get processed. In this lab the donated bodies are decontaminated and the soft tissues are removed from the bones, so that a skeletal analysis can be conducted. This facility has a processing suite with giant kettles for processing bodies, a morgue freezer to store bodies, a digitizer, and a portable x-ray machine. Most forensic anthropology laboratories do not have a separate building just for processing, so we were all amazed when we saw this dedicated space.  This lab is also where the Operation Identification (unidentified migrants) analyses take place. We spent most of our time here doing skeletal analyses, while other teams worked on processing remains or on documenting personal artifacts that were found with the migrant remains.

Student in gown, hair net, and gloves next to the large processing kettle in the processing suite
Processing suite with kettle
Large white freezer at the morgue
Morgue Freezer

Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Laboratory (GEFARL)
At GEFARL, osteological research and histology analyses are conducted by students and faculty. The donated skeletal collection is also curated here. GEFARL is full of fancy toys (high tech scientific equipment) including a micro-CT scanner, a white light laser scanner, and a 3D printer. We were so jealous when we walked into this laboratory. The equipment they have here is amazing and great tools for research. We were shown a few skulls that they printed with their 3D printer. They looked pretty close to the real thing, but felt heavy. The micro-CT scanner may have the word micro it’s the name, but this machine is huge. The Micro-CT scanner and white light laser scanner both create 3D images that can be manipulated and stored on a computer for later research.

3D printed skull on a shelf
3D printed skull
Large grey and black Micro-CT machine in an office space
Micro-CT
Laboratory space at the Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Research Lab with a large white board and tables with office materials
GEFARL laboratory space

Amanda

Radio Silence

Human Rights, Migrant Death, Snapshots

This week in Texas is a little different from the usual field work we do with the migrant identifications.  Normally we would be waist high in dirt and saturated in sweat.  Instead, we have been busy creating biological profiles for the individuals that were excavated by Baylor and UIndy in the two previous field seasons.  While it is not physically backbreaking work, creating biological profiles can be just as exhausting.  It’s hard to stay mentally focused for hours on end.  It is also possibly the most important part of our work because it is essential to the identification process.  We need to pay close attention to everything we do to make sure that these individuals are properly identified in order to be returned to their families.

Team member Justin filling out a dental analysis form The only problem in terms of blogging about this type of lab work is that it isn’t glamorous.    First, much of our lab work contains sensitive information.  It is graphic and contains personal information, so not only is it inappropriate to post online but may be illegal to share (at least in Indiana, state laws vary).  Secondly, as I said earlier it isn’t glamorous.  It is hard to photograph notebooks, calipers, and pencils, then tell people how cool it is to do math and science (for the record, IT IS COOL).

Dr. Krista Latham writing notes on a red clipboardSince I can’t really show you what we’ve been doing the past few days, I thought it might be helpful to explain a little about the process.  The biological profile (or bio profile as we say in the biz) contains a list of descriptions that we create from an individual’s skeleton.  That list includes their age at death, whether they were male or female, their ancestry, and how tall they were.  Imagine this part of the process like a big game of “Guess Who”.  From the onset, there are many possibilities of who this person is.  Little by little, we narrow down that list of people by answering the questions like:  Are they male?  Are they European?  Are they young?  Are they tall?  Eventually we are left with a much shorter list of individuals, but we have not yet been able to identify a particular individual.  Allow me to give you an example.  If I gave you these categories for Ryan’s bio profile, I would say- This is a white male, probably in his 20s and is about 6 feet tall.  While it is helpful in narrowing our search, there are still plenty of people on this planet who fit this description.  We need to be much more specific in order to identify anyone.

Team member Ryan analyzing an element with gloves onThe next step is to look for anything unique that might help us to identify the person.  One method is to create charts and take photographs of teeth and dental work.  Everybody’s teeth are unique, especially if they have had teeth pulled, cavities filled, or personalized dentures made.  Another method we use is to look for broken bones or skeletal diseases that have healed.  Broken bones aren’t necessarily individualizing by themselves, but they help tell the story.  If I use Ryan as my example again (sorry, buddy), I could be much more confident in positively identifying him if I know that he had broken his forearm as a kid, and I could match the information ascertained from the skeleton with his medical records.  Finally, one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal is the use of DNA analysis.  If we can match an individual to a family reference sample, then we can be incredibly confident in our identification.

Team member Ryan performing measurements of skeletal elements on an osteometric boardIn the end, our hope is that all of these individuals are identified and returned to their families.  The creation of a biological profile is an essential part of the identification process.  I applaud the hard-working students and professors at Texas State and the University of Indianapolis for their tireless efforts this week.  It is because of their labors that any identifications will be possible.

Team member Justin standing behind a clear dry-erase board with a mustache and monocle drawn on it
Lab work is serious.

Justin

Day 11

Human Rights, Migrant Death, Snapshots
Day 11 group photo of the Beyond Borders team members infront of an H-E-B
Day 11

Today is our last day in the lab.  It is day 11 of our trip, marking five days with the South Texas Human Rights Center, one day exploring San Marcos and five days at the Texas State University ORPL lab.  There were many goals set for the week at Texas State with different groups aiming for different goals.  There were individuals that needed intake and processing, personal items that needed cleaning and documentation, databases that needed updating, samples that needed to be obtained for molecular and histological analyses, photographs that needed to be taken, skeletal analyses that needed to be conducted and case reports that needed to be produced.  All of these activities fall under the umbrella of Operation Identification, which is Texas State University faculty and students working together and with other organizations to identify and repatriate these individuals to their families.  The UIndy team worked towards a goal of 15 skeletal analyses and case reports completed and that goal was met.  Everyone celebrated a successful week with delicious grilled foods and fun at Dr. Spradley’s home.  It was nice to see everyone out of the lab environment after spending a week working feverishly on the migrant identification efforts.  It was fun seeing everyone out of their lab clothing, relaxed and enjoying the evening and conversation.  We all needed to decompress after such an intense week of work.

Beyond Borders team members taking a group photo taking a break outside
Taking a moment to relax in order to maintain our determination and pace

These past two weeks went by both quickly and slowly at the same time.  Each day flew by faster and faster than the the one before, yet it feels like so long ago that we were in Falfurrias.  There is still a lot that needs to be done to wrap up our work this year once we get home.  But it feels good leaving on a high note.  Setting such high goals for ourselves was risky because there was always that question of whether or not we would get everything done.  Leaving knowing we accomplished our goals is a good feeling amidst the sadness and complexities of this human rights issue.

~KEL