Forensic Analysis of Wood DNA

Plant DNA is overlooked in many cases, in part due to a lack of recognizable boundaries concerning the usefulness of plant DNA (or forensic botany3); further, specimens are not routinely seized. •e concept of obtaining samples from a crime scene, a suspect, or a suspect’s belongings is dependent on knowing not only that the evidence exists, but also that, under certain circumstances, it can be rendered su©ciently useful for presentation in a court of law. For example, how o¨en are plants or wood present at a crime scene? How o¨en are fragments of wood present on weapons, vehicles, or suspects? What if those fragments of wood could be used to place a suspect at a crime scene? •e answer to these, and other related questions, must eventually be answered to explore the utility of this concept.