[The development of the scientific and methodological basis of Russian forensic biology].

The development of the scientific and methodological basis of Russian forensic biology is retraced since the time of its formation as a self-contained branch of forensic medical examination. Comprehensive analysis of scientific publications and technical documents revealed principal directions along which forensic examination of evidential objects of biological origin developed. The wealth of research data obtained by forensic biologists during a long period (from the 1930s to the 2000s) is for the first time summarized and thoroughly analysed.