Intro
Name a branch of science that can be beneficial for forensic science
Pretty much any...
Bio/chem/psych/geology etc
Draw an outward spiral search pattern
Start in the middle and make enlarging circles towards the outside
What is the most common fingerprint pattern?
Loops
What type of evidence is a hair?
Class
Why can't bloodstained clothing be stored in a sealed bag?
Define evidence
Anything that establishes or disproves a fact
What should be done before any piece of evidence is moved?
What is the rarest fingerprint pattern?
Arches
What portion of the hair contains the cuticle, cortex and medulla?
The shaft
What household item can be vaporized to help discover fingerprints on items like glass?
Superglue
Approximately how many crime labs are in the US?
350 - 400
How does CAD software help forensic scientists?
Creating 3d models of the scene
What term refers to the small/unique differences that all fingerprints have?
Minutiae
Name a plant, animal, and man made fiber.
Plant - cotton, jute, hemp
Animal - wool, angora, silk
Man made - rayon, polyester, spandex
What kind of evidence is a person's handwriting?
Individual
What does DEA stand for?
Drug Enforcement Agency
Name one group of people who are often not a reliable witness and explain why.
Elderly, addicts, children, those related to the crime, poor vision, head injured.
What is the minimum number of minutiae and/or ridge patterns that need to match for a forensic scientist to prove that a set of prints match?
There is no minimum
What is the cuticle pattern most often associated with humans?
Imbricate
What is the pooling of blood after death called?
Livor mortis
Name something a forensic entomologist might use to help determine time of death.
Flies, maggots, beetles, any insect
What is trace evidence?
The result of two objects interacting
What layer of skin determines fingerprints?
Dermal papillae
Describe how most synthetic fibers burn
Blacken and curl away from the flame, sometimes dripping and turning the end into a hard bead. Chemical smell.
What kind of animal hair is used to make cashmere?
Goat