Historically, the work of forensic scientists has gone largely unrecognized despite its invaluable contributions to the prosecution of countless crimes around the world. Even in works of fiction, the detective has been far more widely represented than his or her counterparts in the lab. Then, in 1994, two events dramatically heightened the public's awareness of the scientists behind the scenes: the advent of reliable DNA identification and the trial of ex-football star O.J. Simpson. Now, the field of forensics is one of the fastest-growing in the scientific community, and the exploits of the multitalented men and women who use science to unravel crimes are widely celebrated in novels, movies, and on television. Body in Question takes a comprehensive look at the meticulous work and cutting-edge science that go into solving crime today. It examines the broad scope of contemporary forensics, shedding light on the history, technology, and application of each particular specialty the discipline encompasses: microbiology, biochemistry, entomology, and physics, to name just a few. Also included are hundreds of photographs and illustrationssome of them quite graphicof the pioneering scientists, ingenious criminals, and scientific breakthroughs and processes that are all part of the fascinating history of forensics. In Body in Question, author Brian Innes has rendered the challenging technical terrain of forensics accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. The application of each branch of forensics is illustrated with accounts of numerous real, and some fictional, cases that show the science at work. With a foreword by Ronald Singer, President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and packed with hundreds of photographsmany of them published here for the first timethis book provides an indispensable overview of forensics today.