Pollen in Forensic Palynology: An Exploration into a Crime Solving Tool

Abstract

Palynology is the study of pollen grain and spores. The term forensic when inserted into the picture marks the usage of pollen into a crime-solving and suspect finding tool. Pollen grain has an outer layer made up of sporopollenin which gives high durability and resistance due to which pollen can survive at adverse and extreme conditions. The samples collected from the crime scene are analysed, studied and investigated along with the samples obtained from the suspects. A relation is derived which acts as evidence during the judicial custody. Pollen analysis is highly useful if a crime that has happened long back, and now needs to be opened up. Advancement of this technique in India is still awaited.