Forensics Observation Skills
statement or information that can be verified
fact
the documented or unbroken transfer of evidence
chain of custody
the region of a hair located outside the medulla that contains granules or pigment
cortex
the passing of evidence, such as a fiber, from victim to suspect or vice versa
direct transfer
an impression left on any surface that consists of patterns made by the ridges on a finger
fingerprint
relating to the application of scientific knowledge to legal questions
forensic
(indirect evidence) evidence used to imply a fact but not support it directly
circumstantial evidence
the tough outer covering of a hair that is composed of overlapping scales
cuticle
a fiber produced naturally and harvested from animal, plant, or mineral sources
natural fiber
a triangular ridge pattern
delta
personal belief founded on judgement rather than on direct experience or knowledge
opinion
material that connects an individual or thing to a certain group
class evidence
part of the hair above the follicle; mitochondrial DNA
hair shaft
the smallest indivisible unit of a textile, it must be at least 100 times longer
fiber
a center of a loop
core
information received from the senses
perception
evidence that (if authentic) supports an alleged fact of a case
direct evidence
genetic material in the mitochondria of the cytoplasm of a cell; only inherited from the mother
mitochondrial DNA
fibers that have been spun together
yarn
a concealed fingerprint made visible through the use of powders or forensic techniques
latent fingerprint
a person who has seen someone or something related to a crime and can communicate his or her observations
eyewitness
a kind of evidence that identifies a particular person or thing
individual evidence
genetic material in the nucleus of a cell
nuclear DNA
a fiber made from a manufactured substance such as plastic
synthetic fiber
a visible fingerprint produced when fingers coated with blook, ink, or some other substance touch a surface and transfer their print to that surface
patent fingerprint