Question

Following the recovery of a beheaded skull bone by the police, the relatives of a missing person want to confirm his identity. Which of the following techniques can be used to figure out a person’s identity using the beheaded skull bone and photograph of the person?

• A. Superimposition
• B. Anthropometry
• C. DNA fingerprinting
• D. Cheiloscopy

Hint:

Superimposition is highly effective in forensic investigations, especially when identifying missing persons, but it works best when there is a clear and well-maintained photograph of the person.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Superimposition: This is a forensic method in which a photograph of a person is superimposed over the skull (or skeletal remains) to visually assess the potential match. It is one of the commonly used techniques to identify the deceased in forensic investigations when facial features are missing, like in the case of a beheaded body.
Anthropometry: This method involves measuring various parts of the body and comparing them with known measurements of a person. It is not typically used with just a skull and photograph to confirm identity.
DNA fingerprinting: While DNA fingerprinting is a definitive method for identifying individuals, it would require DNA samples from both the skull and the family members. It’s not directly related to the superimposition technique, which is specifically visual.
Cheiloscopy: This method examines the patterns on the lips to help in identifying people, but it is not applicable in the case of a beheaded body without a full facial structure. Thus, the correct answer is Superimposition (1) because it is a visual technique used to compare photographs with skeletal remains, making it the most suitable for identifying the person based on the skull.