Forensics The Science of Crime

Crime scene investigation in the laboratory: molecular biologist Dr Harald Schneider extracts DNA from very small traces. Already 0.5 square millimetres are enough to uniquely identify genetic material. At first you could only tell whose DNA you found.

A weapon is found at the scene of a crime. Important question for the investigators: Was the victim shot with this weapon? Molecular ballistics can make a decisive contribution to clarification. Organic material from the victim is thrown back into the weapon in the event of gunshot wounds.