Detection of Bacterial Diversity of Various Habitats in Çorum Province and Its Criminalistics Contribution to Possible Crime Scene Studies

Abstract

Microorganisms are not homogeneously distributed in environments, soil systems are heterogeneous. Soil can be an important evidence value in forensic investigations. It is among the important evidences that contribute to the solution of forensic events in forensic sciences. Bacteria contained in the soil are microbiological evidences. Not all bacteria can be cultured by conventional methods and the amount of cultured bacteria remains limited. Metagenomic studies have been carried out for non-culturable Bacteria. The aim of this study is to perform DNA isolation from soil samples taken from Yeşil Lake (swamp), Faculty of Arts and Sciences garden, agricultural land, Sıklık (forest area) regions of Çorum Province in Türkiye and to determine bacterial diversity by metagenomic analysis of DNA isolated from soil samples. Density and differences of isolates according to habitats were determined. It is thought that the result of this study can shed light on previous crime scene studies in the determined habitats and will contribute to possible future crime scene studies and forensic science that may occur later.