Question

Before age 25, forensic anthropologists look at the ___ of bone tissue to determine the age of the individual. After age 25, they look at the ___ of bones.

a) Density; color
b) Color; density
c) Size; density
d) Development ; degeneration

Answer 1

The answer is (d) Development; degeneration. Forensic anthropologists determine age by developmental features in individuals under 25 and degenerative changes in those over 25, with bone density being a key factor in the latter group.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before the age of 25, forensic anthropologists look at the development of bone tissue to determine the age of the individual. After age 25, they look at the degeneration of bones. The correct answer to the question is d) Development; degeneration.

In forensic anthropology, understanding the age of an individual based on skeletal remains is crucial. For those under 25, growth and development such as epiphyseal fusion and dental development are key indicators. As individuals age, the skeleton undergoes degenerative changes that can be analyzed, such as changes to the pubic symphysis, iliac auricular surface, cranial suture closure, and overall bone density. Bone density, in particular, peaks at around age 30 and then begins to decline, which indicates a person's age after their mid-20s. Transition analysis uses known-age reference collections to assess the probability of certain skeletal characteristics corresponding to specific age groups, applying Bayes's theorem and maximum likelihood estimation to avoid biases in age estimation.