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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Luke Kendall <luke@********.CANON.OZ.AU>
Subject: Bertillon (Re: Lone Star Sourcebook (fwd))
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 1994 10:41:28 +1000
Ivy Ryan:

> Anybody remember the Bertilon method of identifying criminals? Dates
> from the 1800s. It isn't as accurate as fingerprints but it can work as
> far as the character can be seen.

Sounds vaguely familiar; please tell me more. My online Webster just says:

Ber7til7lon [phonetics deleted] Alphonse 1853-1914 Fr.
anthropol. & criminol.

luke
Message no. 2
From: Ivy Ryan <ivyryan@***.ORG>
Subject: Re: Bertillon (Re: Lone Star Sourcebook (fwd))
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 20:20:53 -0700
On Fri, 10 Jun 1994, Luke Kendall wrote:

> Ivy Ryan:
>
> > Anybody remember the Bertilon method of identifying criminals? Dates
> > from the 1800s. It isn't as accurate as fingerprints but it can work as
> > far as the character can be seen.
>
> Sounds vaguely familiar; please tell me more. My online Webster just says:
>
> Ber7til7lon [phonetics deleted] Alphonse 1853-1914 Fr.
> anthropol. & criminol.
>
> luke
>
Figured I spelled it wrong! OK, he invented a system of measuring the
bones of the body, facial, shoulder, arm and leg bones. The idea was
that no two humans had exactly the same measurements everywhere, so the
police could tell criminals apart. It turned out to be not completely
guaranteed, but it was a lot better than they had before. (ie nothing)

With computers and rangefinders doing the measuring it would be a lot
more accurate. It's my guess as to how the Tir Na N0g "morph-seeking"
sniper rifle works. Of course, with the Body Shoppe's of the 21st
century the measurements 'can' be changed, so the sniper needs the most
up-to-date scans they can get before going hunting.

The system went out of use when fingerprints came in. But I read
recently that the FBI finally got a duplicate on a set of prints, so now
they have to find something alse. Again.

Ivy
Message no. 3
From: Bryan Prince <WALAB@******.HH.VANDERBILT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bertillon (Re: Lone Star Sourcebook (fwd))
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 1994 08:54:53 -0600
Ivy writes--
I guess that the FBI finally got a duplicate on a set of prints, so now
they have to find something else.--

How about retinal scans and DNA fingerprinting, Ivy? That should hold
the FBI another 100 years or so.
*grin*
Bryan Prince
Message no. 4
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bertillon (Re: Lone Star Sourcebook (fwd))
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 1994 12:57:58 -0400
>>>>> "Ivy" == Ivy Ryan <ivyryan@***.ORG> writes:

Ivy> The system went out of use when fingerprints came in. But I read
Ivy> recently that the FBI finally got a duplicate on a set of prints, so
Ivy> now they have to find something alse. Again.

DNA matching.

--
Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> | "Drop a chicken!" --Xuxa
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/ratinox |
Message no. 5
From: Ivy Ryan <ivyryan@***.ORG>
Subject: Re: Bertillon (Re: Lone Star Sourcebook (fwd))
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 1994 11:09:12 -0700
On Fri, 10 Jun 1994, Bryan Prince wrote:

> Ivy writes--
> I guess that the FBI finally got a duplicate on a set of prints, so now
> they have to find something else.--
>
> How about retinal scans and DNA fingerprinting, Ivy? That should hold
> the FBI another 100 years or so.
> *grin*
> Bryan Prince
>
I think that we already have the technology to do the retinal scans, so
that might work. I don't think we're close to the DNA fingerprinting as
yet, but I don't really know. They do use DNA in court at times, so maybe.

Harder and harder to stay in the shadows. ;)

Ivy
Message no. 6
From: Bryan Prince <WALAB@******.HH.VANDERBILT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bertillon (Re: Lone Star Sourcebook (fwd))
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 1994 15:55:41 -0600
Ivy (and everyone else-)
DNA fingerprinting is a valid forensic tool. I am in the Biochem. Dept.
at Vanderbilt and have read many articles about its use/abuse. The US
Justice Dept. regards the DNA fingerprinting process as an essential
forensic tool. With PCR technology, it becomes easier and easier to ID a
suspect, in most cases with as little as a few cells worth of material.
Just thought you would like to know..
Bryan Prince

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Thwap!