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Presentamos el estudio antropológico forense de Úrsula Micaela Morata (1628-1703). La conservación de su autobiografía y de su cuerpo nos ha permitido acercarnos a este personaje histórico de Alicante del siglo XVII. El magnífico estado que su cuerpo presenta por un proceso de momificación natural nos permite, trescientos seis años después, estudiarlo con todo detalle utilizando avanzados medios tecnológicos no invasivos de análisis de imagen (escáner). Partiendo del análisis de las imágenes obtenidas y del examen externo del cuerpo, hemos querido confirmar o descartar las lesiones sufridas en las profanaciones que sufrió, recogidas con detalle en textos manuscritos de la época. Se completa el estudio con el análisis microbiológico de diferentes zonas corporales y el estudio entomológico de cuatro pupas encontradas durante el examen del cuerpo., We present the forensic anthropological study of Ursula Micaela Morata (1628-1703). The preservation of her autobiography and her body has allowed us to get closer to this 17th century historical figure in Alicante. The magnificent state that her body presents through a natural mummification process allows us, three hundred and six years later, to study it in detail using advanced non-invasive technological means of image analysis (scanner). Starting from the analysis of the images obtained and the external examination of the body, we wanted to confirm or rule out the injuries suffered in the desecrations he suffered, collected in detail in manuscript texts of the time. The study is completed with the microbiological analysis of different body areas and the entomological study of four pupae found during the body examination.

Protophormia terraenovae larvae are found frequently on corpses in central and northern Europe but are scarce in the Mediterranean area. We present the first case in the Iberian Peninsula where P. terraenovae was captured during autopsies in Madrid (Spain). In the corpse other necrophagous flies were found, Lucilia sericata, Chrysomya albiceps and Sarcophaga argyrostoma. To calculate the posmortem interval, the life cycle of P. terraenovae was studied at constant temperature, room laboratory and natural fluctuating conditions. The total developmental time was 16.61±0.09 days, 16.75±4.99 days in the two first cases. In natural conditions, developmental time varied between 31.22±0.07 days (average temperature: 15.6oC), 15.58±0.08 days (average temperature: 21.5oC) and 14.9±0.10 days (average temperature: 23.5oC). Forensic importance and the implications of other necrophagous Diptera presence is also discussed., Las larvas de Protophormia terraenovae se encuentran con frecuencia asociadas a cadáveres en el centro y norte de Europa pero son raras en el área Mediterránea. Presentamos el primer caso en la Península Ibérica donde se han recolectado larvas de P. terraenovae en autopsias efectuadas en Madrid (Spain). Otras especies necrófagas fueron recolectadas del cadáver, Lucilia sericata, Chrysomya albiceps y Sarcophaga argyrostoma. Para estimar el intervalo postmortem, se estudió el ciclo biológico de P. terraenovae a temperatura constante, en condiciones de laboratorio y bajo condiciones naturales variables. El tiempo total de desarrollo fue 16.61±0.09 días, 16.75±4.99 días para los dos primeros casos. En condiciones naturales, el tiempo total de desarrollo varió entre 31.22±0.07 días (temperatura media: 15.6oC), 15.58±0.08 días (temperatura media: 21.5oC) y 14.9±0.10 días (temperatura media: 23.5oC). Se discuten tanto la importancia forense como las implicaciones de otros dípteros necrófagos presentes en el estudio.

On their arrival to the Iberian Peninsula, the North African and Berbers Muslims encountered no resistance, but a land with some political trouble between Christians, Godos and the Jewish people, which facilitated somehow the absorption of the new invaders ideas. In on hand, there is the idea that military invasion changed by force daily habits, religious traditions and beliefs: the “Al-Ândalus” region. However, in the other hand, there are evidences of a peaceful co-existence between Muslims and the “Iberians”, as well as, a voluntary absorption of the Islamic culture. Thus, Muslims who lived under Christian rule formed the “Mudejar” community and its biogeographical origin remains still unclear. Considering the wide geographical extend and duration of the Muslim occupation, it is reasonable to suppose that the Islamic permanency had a significant impact on the Iberian gene-pool. In Uceda, (Guadalajara, Spain), 70 medieval bodies were found buried in a Mudejar cemetery. According to anthropologists’ experts, Muslim burial was observed, including the body orientation to Mecca, and all led to believe that the individuals had an Islamic origin. So, we are carrying out a genetic study in order to verify if their mitochondrial lineage is coincident with the characteristic haplogroups described for peoples from the actual Islamic geographical areas. The sampling process concerned two teeth per individual, obeying to the criteria to select evidences for critical DNA analysis. The samples were directly exposed to the floor conditions, and, in some cases, were externally damaged, requiring some adaptations in the analysis process. Our preliminary results seem to indicate that the individuals did not have North-African origin, since they revealed, so far, European haplogroups, indicating a possible religious conversion. From the forensic perspective, this is an important study since we adapted the technique in order to obtain reliable and replicable data from critical sample

In a High Medieval age cemetery, dated from the XIII-XIV century (Uceda, Guadalajara, Central Spain), two bodies were found, buried in a curious position. One of the bodies, an adult, had close to its abdominal area a small number of little bones. It was not clear if it could have been a pregnant woman or, otherwise, two separated burials, at different times. Anthropological experts confirmed that the second individual should be a fetus, being absolutely impossible to determine the sex. Furthermore, the adult was appointed as a woman. Concerning the condition of the samples, the adult one was preserved, obeying to the authenticity criteria to select evidences for a critical DNA analysis. But the samples belonging to the second individual were very delicate and fragile, complicating the sampling work. A genetic study will be carried out to find if there is any biological bond between the individuals, as well as, their biological sex. The analysis procedure had to be somewhat modified due to the sensitivity of the second individual samples. So far, our preliminary results reveal that, if both individuals are not linked by maternal kinship, they must be, at least, relatives by maternal side, since they share the same maternal lineage. Conclusions reached in the present study can help in mass disasters cases. In such situations, it is crucial to determine kinships between samples, despite their advanced state of degradation, which makes the improvement of this procedure a crucial point in forensic genetics.

The muscid Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a species with forensic importance in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This fly has recently been introduced into southern Europe and, until now, had not been recorded in forensic cases in this region. Here, morphology of all larval instars of S. nudiseta is documented in detail by using a combination of light and scanning electron microscopy. Literature data concerning larval morphology are revised and characters allowing identification from other forensically important Muscidae are listed. The life cycle of this species was studied at four constant temperatures: 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C. Total development varied between 46.50 ± 0.97 days at 15 °C and 15.39 ± 0.32 days at 30 °C. Moreover, we report this species breeding in human corpses, for the first time in Europe, in forensic cases from autopsies at the Anatomical Forensic Institute of Madrid and the Institute of Legal Medicine of Alicante, Spain.

Sperm competition favors increases in relative testes mass and production efficiency, and changes in sperm phenotype that result in faster swimming speeds. However, little is known about its effects on traits that contribute to determine the quality of a whole ejaculate (i.e., proportion of motile, viable, morphologically normal and acrosome intact sperm) and that are key determinants of fertilization success. Two competing hypotheses lead to alternative predictions: (a) sperm quantity and quality traits co-evolve under sperm competition because they play complementary roles in determining ejaculate's competitive ability, or (b) energetic constraints force trade-offs between traits depending on their relevance in providing a competitive advantage. We examined relationships between sperm competition levels, sperm quantity, and traits that determine ejaculate quality, in a comparative study of 18 rodent species using phylogenetically controlled analyses. Total sperm numbers were positively correlated to proportions of normal sperm, acrosome integrity and motile sperm; the latter three were also significantly related among themselves, suggesting no trade-offs between traits. In addition, testes mass corrected for body mass (i.e., relative testes mass), showed a strong association with sperm numbers, and positive significant associations with all sperm traits that determine ejaculate quality with the exception of live sperm. An “overall sperm quality” parameter obtained by principal component analysis (which explained 85% of the variance) was more strongly associated with relative testes mass than any individual quality trait. Overall sperm quality was as strongly associated with relative testes mass as sperm numbers. Thus, sperm quality traits improve under sperm competition in an integrated manner suggesting that a combination of all traits is what makes ejaculates more competitive. In evolutionary terms this implies that a complex network of genetic and developmental

The insects can be an important tool in the legal medical research, but their utility depends on base information that exists in relation to the species and their order of arrival to corpses at each locality. In Venezuela, very little is known about the fauna of insects associated with corpses. In the present work we report the species of arthropods of forensic importance associated to carcasses of Rattus norvegicus and Oryctolagus cuniculus in Maracay, Venezuela. This fauna is conformed by Diptera (mainly Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae) and Coleoptera (Dermestidae, Cleridae). The flies colonize the carcass in the first days after death, being Chrysomya albiceps the predominant species. For this locality the species that potentially could contribute in the study of a corpse are Chrysomya albiceps, Phaenicia sericata, P. cluvia and P. eximia and beetles of Dermestidae and Cleridae families., Los insectos pueden ser una herramienta importante en la investigación médico legal, pero su utilidad depende mucho de la información base que se tenga en relación a las especies y su orden de llegada a los cadáveres para determinada zona. En Venezuela muy poco se conoce de la fauna de insectos asociada a cadáveres. En el presente trabajo se reportan las especies de artrópodos de importancia forense de asociadas a cadáveres de Rattus norvegicus y Oryctolagus cuniculus en Maracay � Venezuela, encontrándose que la fauna asociada a estos cadáveres está conformada principalmente por Dípteros (principalmente Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae) y Coleópteros (Dermestidae, Cleridae). Los Dípteros colonizan el cadáver en los primeros días luego de la muerte, siendo Chrysomya albiceps la especie predominante en todos los cadáveres. Para esta localidad las especies que potencialmente pudieran aportar información en el estudio de un cadáver son Chrysomya albiceps, Phaenicia sericata, P. cluvia y P. eximia y Coleópteros de las familias Dermestidae y Cleridae.

Los insectos pueden ser una herramienta importante en la investigación médico legal, pero su utilidad depende mucho de la información base que se tenga en relación a las especies y su orden de llegada a los cadáveres para determinada zona. En Venezuela muy poco se conoce de la fauna de insectos asociada a cadáveres. En el presente trabajo se reportan las especies de artrópodos de importancia forense de asociadas a cadáveres de Rattus norvegicus y Oryctolagus cuniculus en Maracay –Venezuela, encontrándose que la fauna asociada a estos cadáveres está conformada principalmente por Dípteros (principalmente Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae) y Coleópteros (Dermestidae, Cleridae). Los Dípteros colonizan el cadáver en los primeros días luego de la muerte, siendo Chrysomya albiceps la especie predominante en todos los cadáveres. Para esta localidad las especies que potencialmente pudieran aportar información en el estudio de un cadáver son Chrysomya albiceps, Phaenicia sericata, P. cluvia y P. eximia y Coleópteros de las familias Dermestidae y Cleridae., The insects can be an important tool in the legal medical research, but their utility depends on base information that exists in relation to the species and their order of arrival to corpses at each locality. In Venezuela, very little is known about the fauna of insects associated with corpses. In the present work we report the species of arthropods of forensic importance associated to carcasses of Rattus norvegicus and Oryctolagus cuniculus in Maracay, Venezuela. This fauna is conformed by Diptera (mainly Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae) and Coleoptera (Dermestidae, Cleridae). The flies colonize the carcass in the first days after death, being Chrysomya albiceps the predominant species. For this locality the species that potentially could contribute in the study of a corpse are Chrysomya albiceps, Phaenicia sericata, P. cluvia and P. eximia and beetles of Dermestidae and Cleridae families.