ACTUOPALYNOLOGYACTUOPALYNOLOGYThe science of palynology can be divided informally into two general branches, depending on whether the application involves contemporary (modern, extant) or fossil (past: days to billions of years) palynomorphs. This artificial division also generally cuts along the lines of biological vs. geological.
AEROALLERGY: the branch of medicine concerned with the seasonal occurrence, abundance, and allerogenic effect of spores and pollen.
CRIMINOLOGY:
Palynology is sometimes used in conection with criminal
investigation to determine the past location of items or
persons based on the pollen and spores on or in them.
References:
Among the categories of actuopalynology, only aeroallergy and pollination ecology investigate pollen that retains its living contents. The germ nucleus of the pollen is responsible for fertilization of the egg and production of plant seeds. The field of pollination ecology studies the factors that determine the pollen grain's success in fertilization. This success is partially determined by growth of the pollen tube through the flower ovule to the egg, which is mediated by reaction of the stigma to soluble proteins stored in the pollen wall. The rate of pollen tube growth is slowed for pollen grains carrying the "wrong" proteins. Successful pollination is necessary for the production of various seed crops, and therefore of considerable economic value. Alfalfa seed, for example, results from fertilization through the alfalfa flower's tightly-closed petals by "leaf-cutter" bees.
The same soluble proteins responsible for successful plant fertilization produce allergic reactions in persons suffering from "pollenosis" or hay fever, making "aeroallergy" another economically important science.
Melissopalynology or Melitopalynology is the study of pollen in honey. The cell contents and wall proteins have been dissolved by the digestive enzymes of bees, leaving the pollen wall for determination of which plants were visited by the bees. In the U.S.A., honey is filtered, mixed, and pasteurized, removing its pollen content. However, most of the world favors the distinctive flavors and colors of "raw" honey, so government scientists study the pollen content of honey to certify its origin and purity.
Forensic palynology is, practically speaking, a branch of archeological palynology. Determining the recent whereabouts of clothing or other items is essentially artifact-sourcing. However, the goal of the technique appears to be biological: tracing the behavior of the human animal. Although interesting examples of the technique exist, its application appears to be uncommon, or at least the literature is scanty.
Owen Davis 2/99