Editing Forensic palynology (section)

=== Analysis ===
Analyzing the samples, once the palynomorphs have been extracted, will allow for identification, which can then be used in a forensic case to relate a person or object to a crime scene, or even to determine whether the scene at which the pollen was found was the primary or the secondary scene.<ref name=":2" />

Samples are chemically processed with a mix of acids, sodium hydroxide, acetic anhydride with water washes in between.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Hawksworth |first1=David L. |last2=Wiltshire |first2=Patricia E. J. |last3=Webb |first3=Judith A. |date=2016-07-01 |title=Rarely reported fungal spores and structures: An overlooked source of probative trace evidence in criminal investigations |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037907381630069X |journal=Forensic Science International |series=Special Issue on the 7th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference |language=en |volume=264 |pages=41–46 |doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.047 |pmid=27017083 |issn=0379-0738}}</ref> They are then neutralized, and the extracts are stained and mounted onto slides for microscopic examination.<ref name=":5" /> This helps in identification with the help of available reference collections to make comparisons on the pollen's characteristics.<ref name=":2" /> The scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been used traditionally since the 1970s for primary identification of palynomorphs, but is very time-consuming, tedious, and not ideal for routine analysis.<ref name=":4" />

Compared to the SEM, semi-automated pollen grain imaging techniques such as Transmitted Light Microscopy (TLM), Widefield fluorescent method, and Structured illumination (Apotome) were found to have a higher speed and accuracy when it came to the identification of pollen spores.<ref name=":4" />

DNA Barcoding is another method used to differentiate between pollen grains by comparing their DNA sequences.<ref name=":4" /> A pollen grain of 10 micrometers in length is required.<ref name=":4" /> Once the sample is collected and prepared, genetic markers are placed, then the DNA is isolated, and finally the DNA is sequenced, usually through high throughout sequencing (HTS).<ref name=":4" /> HTS is faster and less expensive than traditional methods for DNA barcoding.<ref name=":4" />