Biochemistry
Science against crime

• Determining the trajectory of a stray bullet that accidentally killed a child in bed on Old Year's eve - Department of Human Anatomy and Department of Physics.
• Determining whether tea trees on a tea farm were from stocks stolen from a Malawi plant breeder - Dept Botany and Dept Genetics
• Determining whether fast-foods stores change their deep-frying oils according to safety regulations - Dept Food Science
• Determining whether Mrs Accused poisoned her husband who was buried three months ago - Dept Chemistry and Dept Biochemistry
• Detection of fraud in the cash flow of a big business - Dept Mathematics
• The case of cheap olive oil: How to distinguish real olive oil from faked olive oil. Dept Chemistry, Dept Food Science and Dept Biochemistry
• Determination of whether HIV developed from unethical polio trials in Africa in the late 1950's - Unit of Bioinformatics, Dept of Biochemistry, Dept Human Physiology and Dept Genetics
• Determining the time of a murder of a victim that was left in a field - Dept of Entomology (Zoology)

• Students should visit (on their own and in their own environment where they live) companies or stores where problematic crimes occur and ask support for the design of plans to combat such crimes by science. (Eg R1000 for the effort to solicit multidisciplinary science solutions at UP). Real good solutions may become Expo projects.
• SAPS may be asked to sponsor a prize for the best innovation that a student or group brought to the fore to combat crime in 2004.
• Big operations such as Coca Cola or Pick & Pay may be asked to act as official sponsors of the programme, providing the necessary funds for travel, presentation costs and bench fees. Students should prepare a business plan for their projects by mid-year 2004.

Participants