1

DAY 1
POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: October 31, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows a light brown to dark red in color (due to the blood), an indicative of its
fresh state. Hence, the death of the chicken can easily be ascertained that it happened for several
hours ago. The remaining tissue, ligaments or flesh attached on it is still fresh. The bone is shiny
and smooth in texture as these could be attributed to the meat juices and oil still left on the
chicken bone. The bone was placed on an open bottle container.

AS TO SIZE

The initial length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is 8.5. The bone’s length was measured
through the use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT

The initial weight of the chicken bone is 10 grams. The bone’s weight was measured through a
weighing scale.

AS TO DENSITY

The initial observation showed that the chicken bone sank on the water. This is an indication
that the bone is still fresh and the tissues and other matters on the bone are still intact. This
finding was also due to the initial weight of the bone of 10 grams.

2
 DAY 5 POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: November 4, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows a brown to red in color (due to the dried blood). The reddish color on
both ends of the bones turned into light brown in color. The remaining tissue, ligaments or flesh
attached on it is slightly dried. The bone is less shiny and less smooth in texture as these could
be attributed to the slightly dried meat juices and oil left on the chicken bone. The bone was
placed on an open bottle container.

AS TO SIZE

The fifth day’s length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is still 8.5. The bone’s length was
measured through the use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT

The fifth day’s weight of the chicken bone is 6 grams. The significant reduction of 4 grams to the
weight of the chicken bone is an indicative that it is not fresh anymore and it is in the process of
drying up. The bone’s weight was measured through a weighing scale.

AS TO DENSITY

The fifth day observation revealed that the chicken bone slightly sank or relatively floated on the
water as shown on the images. This is an indication that the bone is not that fresh and the
tissues and other matters on the bone are less intact. This finding was also due to the weight of
the bone of 6 grams on its fifth day.

3
 DAY 10 POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: November 9, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows a dark brown to light gray in color (due to the formation of molds). The
formation of mold spots is an indication that the bone starts to decay. The light brown in color on
both ends of the bones turned into brown in color. The remaining tissue, ligaments or flesh
attached on it was totally dried. The bone is slightly rough in texture as these could be attributed
to the dried meat juices and oil left on the chicken bone. The bone was placed on an open bottle
container.

AS TO SIZE

The tenth day’s length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is 8. The reduction of half (.5)
centimeters was due to the dryness of the bone. The bone’s length was measured through the
use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT

The tenth day’s weight of the chicken bone is 5 grams. The significant reduction of 1 gram to the
weight of the chicken bone is an indicative that it is not fresh anymore and it is still in the
process of drying up. The bone’s weight was measured through a weighing scale.

AS TO DENSITY

The tenth day observation revealed that the chicken bone floated on the water as shown on the
images. This is an indication that the bone is not that fresh and the tissues and other matters on
the bone are less intact. This finding was also due to the weight of the bone of 5 grams on its
tenth day. It became lightier than before.

4
 DAY 15 POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: November 14, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows a dark brown to gray in color with a visible formation of molds. The
formation of more visible mold spots is an indication that the bone is in the process of decaying.
The brown in color on both ends of the bones turned into dark brown in color. The remaining
tissue, ligaments or flesh attached on it cannot be seen already due to its complete dryness. The
bone is rough in texture. The bone was placed on an open bottle container.

AS TO SIZE

The fifteenth day’s length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is still 8. The reduction of half (.5)
centimeters was due to the dryness of the bone. The bone’s length was measured through the
use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT
The fifteenth day’s weight of the chicken bone is now only 4 grams. The significant reduction of 1
gram to the weight of the chicken bone is an indicative that it is not fresh anymore and it is still
in the process of drying up and decaying. The bone’s weight was measured through a weighing
scale.
AS TO DENSITY

The fifteenth day observation revealed that the chicken bone still floated on the water as shown
on the images. This is an indication that the bone is not fresh and the tissues and other matters
on the bone are not intact. This finding was also due to the weight of the bone of 4 grams on its
fifteenth day, a relatively lightier than previous observations.

5
 DAY 20 POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: November 19, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows a gray to dark gray in color with a more visible formation of molds. The
formation of more visible mold spots is an indication that the bone is still in the process of
decaying. The brown in color on both ends of the bones turned into gray in color. The remaining
tissue, ligaments or flesh attached on it cannot be seen already due to its complete dryness. The
bone is still rough in texture. The bone was placed on an open bottle container.

AS TO SIZE

The twentieth day’s length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is still 7.7. The reduction of half
(.3) centimeters was due to the continuous dryness of the bone. The bone’s length was measured
through the use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT

The twentieth day’s weight of the chicken bone is 3 grams. The significant reduction of 1 gram to
the weight of the chicken bone is an indicative that it is still in the process of drying up and
decaying. The bone’s weight was measured through a weighing scale.

AS TO DENSITY

The twentieth day observation revealed that the chicken bone still floated on the water as shown
on the images. This is an indication that the bone is decaying and the tissues and other matters
on the bone are not intact. This finding was also due to the weight of the bone of 3 grams on its
twentieth day, a relatively lightier than previous observations.

6
 DAY 25 POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: November 24, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows a dark gray to black spots in color with a more visible formation of
molds. The formation of more visible mold spots is an indication that the bone is still in the
process of decaying. The dark brown in color on both ends of the bones turned into gray in color.
The tissue, ligaments or flesh attached on it cannot be seen already due to its complete dryness
and decay. The bone is still rough in texture. The bone was placed on an open bottle container.

AS TO SIZE

The twenty fifth day’s length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is still 7.5. The reduction of (.2)
centimeters was due to the continuous complete dryness of the bone. The bone’s length was
measured through the use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT

The twenty fifth day’s weight of the chicken bone is 3 grams. The significant reduction of 1 gram
to the weight of the chicken bone is an indicative that it is still in the process of drying up and
decaying. The bone’s weight was measured through a weighing scale.

AS TO DENSITY

The twenty fifth day’s observation revealed that the chicken bone still floated on the water as
shown on the images. This is an indication that the bone is decaying and the tissues and other
matters on the bone are not intact. This finding was also due to the weight of the bone of 3 grams
on its twentieth day, a relatively lightier than previous observations.

7
 DAY 30 POINT OF OBSERVATIONS
DATE OF OBSERVATION: November 29, 2020

AS TO APPEARANCE

The chicken bone shows dark gray and black portions in color with a most visible formation of
molds. The formation of most visible mold portions is indication that the bone is still in the
process of decaying. The dark brown in color on both ends of the bones turned into dark gray in
color. The tissue, ligaments or flesh attached on it cannot be seen already due to its complete
dryness and decay. The bone is rough in texture. The bone was placed on an open bottle
container.

AS TO SIZE

The thirtieth day’s length of the chicken bone (in centimeters) is still 7.5. The reduction of (.2)
centimeters was due to the continuous complete dryness of the bone. The bone’s length was
measured through the use of an ordinary ruler.

AS TO WEIGHT

The thirtieth day’s weight of the chicken bone is still the same, 3 grams. The significant reduction
of 1 gram to the weight of the chicken bone is an indicative that it is still in the process of drying
up and decaying. The bone’s weight was measured through a weighing scale.

AS TO DENSITY

The thirtieth day’s observation revealed that the chicken bone still floated on the water as shown
on the images. This is an indication that the bone is decaying and the tissues and other matters
on the bone are not intact. This finding was also due to the weight of the bone of 3 grams on its
thirtieth day, a relatively lightier than previous observations.

8
Bones play a very important part in the overall function of our body. They provide a frame for our body, protecting our vital organs
such as our heart, and they even produce blood that is used by our body. Bone age is an indicator of the skeletal and biological
maturity of an individual. This is different from chronological age, which is calculated using the date of birth of an individual.
Collections of bones from autopsy specimens with known conditions such as arthritis, infections, fractures, cancer, and
osteoporosis are also preserved in these laboratories, and aid in distinguishing trauma-induced bone changes from disease-induced
bone changes. This distinction could also provide critical information to a criminal investigation. This will also help in the analysis
of the skeletal system given different situations. For example, if a child suffers multiple fractures and dies due to related
complications, the parents might be under suspicion for child abuse and homicide.

I learned the importance of bones not only in our physical body and to our daily lives but also in crime scene investigations. Bones
that were obtained in crime related incidents contain information about the lives of people such as where they came from, their age
at death, which diseases they suffered from, and clues of ancestry. Even certain activities, diet, and ways of life are reflected in
bones and teeth. Forensic investigators and medical researchers can deduce a lot information and details from them about a
person’s life and the reason or cause surrounding the person’s death. Moreover, I realized that studying bones helps improve current
research methods for human remains. This is also true in the field of forensic research. The large number of skeletal bones that are
excavated or retrieved makes it possible to test new techniques. These methods can then be used by medico-legal experts as they
try to establish cause of death in crime investigations, and help provide more information about the victim’s identity.

I was also able to learn why bones serve as a great evidence. The abnormal changes in the shape, size and density of bones can
indicate disease or trauma. Bones marked by perimortem injuries (damage at or near the time of death), such as unhealed fractures,
bullet holes, or cuts, can reveal cause of death. Importantly, the weapon used to perpetrate the crime can be known. For example,
an untrained eye can mistake the stab wounds as the cause of death of a person which in fact was by reason of strangulation
9
resulting to asphyxia then subsequently stabbing the victim to conceal the real cause of death. Similarly, lacerations can be
interpreted as knife wounds, but may actually be caused by a blunt object such as a hammer.
Lastly, as future defenders of justice, our knowledge an expertise must not be restricted to legal concepts only. By understanding and
correlating the study of law and medicine, we can broaden our horizon. The analysis of human bone opens the portal of medical truth
that enables the justice system to discover the facts and circumstances surrounding criminal acts. The resolution of civil or criminal
cases can depend upon the systematic discovery, recovery and collection of physical evidence in the field, thorough analysis in the
laboratory, and protection of the integrity of the evidence. Typically, it is the government through its agents, the police officers and
forensic teams that collect and analyze physical evidence gathered in the crime scene. However, lawyers may also play a big part in this
endeavor by utilizing their skills in the analysis of victims of homicides, accidental deaths, natural deaths, and mass murders. Hence,
bone study experiment plays a great importance in crime resolution and consequently, in the administration of justice where legal
medicine applies.

10