Tools Used in Labs
This common powder is used to reveal fingerprints on smooth surfaces.
What is fingerprint powder?
This part of the fingerprint: loop, whorl, or arch. Which appears most commonly?
What is a loop?
He is known as the “father of modern forensics” for creating the first crime lab in France.
Who is Edmond Locard?
This case was one of the first to use fingerprint evidence in the United States, helping convict two brothers in 1902.
What is the West Brothers case?
This branch studies bugs on decomposing bodies.
What is forensic entomology?
This tool separates DNA fragments by size using an electric current.
What is gel electrophoresis?
Every person has unique DNA except these two types of people.
Who are identical twins?
This principle states that every contact leaves a trace.
What is Locard’s Exchange Principle?
This famous glove was a key piece of forensic evidence in the O.J. Simpson trial.
What is the leather glove (“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit”)?
This field focuses on examining human bones to determine identity.
What is forensic anthropology?
This microscope uses electrons instead of light to produce high-resolution images.
What is an electron microscope?
These are the points on a fingerprint that examiners use to match prints.
What are minutiae?
This ancient civilization used fingerprints on clay tablets for business transactions.
What is ancient Babylon?
This missing child case from 1932 led to the creation of federal kidnapping laws after forensic handwriting analysis played a major role.
What is the Lindbergh baby kidnapping case?
This specialty analyzes handwriting, ink, and documents.
What is questioned document analysis?
This device measures the quantity and purity of DNA in a sample.
What is a spectrophotometer (or Nanodrop)?
This DNA process compares STRs to identify individuals.
What is DNA profiling?
She developed forensic anthropology and is known for her work identifying human remains.
Who is Dr. Frances Glessner Lee?
Hair and fiber evidence were critical in solving the Atlanta Child Murder cases, linked to this man.
Who is Wayne Williams?
This discipline handles toxic substances found in the body.
What is forensic toxicology?
This process amplifies (copies) small amounts of DNA to create enough to analyze.
What is PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)?
This landmark case first accepted DNA evidence in a U.S. courtroom.
What is the 1987 Tommy Lee Andrews case?
The first American forensic crime lab was established in this city in 1923.
What is Los Angeles?
This case used bite mark evidence, which later helped expose flaws in forensic odontology.
What is the Ted Bundy case?
This forensic field focuses on recreating the sequence of events at a shooting.
What is forensic ballistics (or firearm analysis)?