Few things are as interesting to us as our own bodies and, by extension, our own identities. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the relationship between the body, environment and society. Reflecting upon these developments, this book examines the role of the body in human identification, in the forging of identities, and the ways in which it embodies our social worlds. The approach is integrative, taking a uniquely biological perspective and reflecting on current discourse in the social sciences. With particular reference to bioarchaeology and forensic science, the authors focus on the construction and categorisation of the body within scientific and popular discourse, examining its many tissues, from the outermost to the innermost, from the skin to DNA. Synthesising two, traditionally disparate, strands of research, this is a valuable contribution to research on human identification and the embodiment of identity.
• Written from a uniquely biological perspective, emphasising the modern context and providing a full integration of the biological and social literature concerning the body • Covers all tissues of the body - from the outside in, from the skin to DNA - offering a complete overview and discussion of the issues • Includes theoretical discussion of the forensic and crime scene sciences, providing fresh and rare insight into these fields
Contents
Dedication; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Categories of identity and identification; 3. The skin; 4. Blood and guts; 5. The skeleton; 6. Biomolecular identification and identity; 7. Intentional modification of the phenotype; 8. Conclusions: identity and identification; References; Index.
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