When working with biological samples for criminal evidence, which field do professionals belong to?

Professionals who work with biological samples in the context of criminal evidence typically belong to the field of medical forensics. This discipline focuses on applying scientific methods to investigate crimes, particularly those involving biological evidence such as blood, hair, and other bodily fluids.

Medical forensics employs techniques from various scientific fields—including genetics, toxicology, and molecular biology—to analyze biological samples, determine identities, and understand the circumstances surrounding a crime. For example, DNA analysis, a major aspect of forensic science, requires a deep understanding of biology and molecular techniques to establish relationships or confirm identities based on biological evidence.

The other fields listed, such as animal and plant biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and microbiology, while relevant to their respective areas of study, do not directly pertain to the analysis and investigation of criminal biological samples. Instead, they focus on broader applications: animal and plant biotechnology deals with genetic modifications for agricultural purposes, pharmaceutical manufacturing is concerned with the production of medications, and microbiology studies microorganisms and their impacts. Thus, medical forensics is distinctly aligned with the forensic analysis of biological evidence utilized in the legal system.