Fingerprints
What are the three main fingerprint patterns?
Loop, Whorl, Arch
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
What’s the first thing investigators do when they arrive at a crime scene?
Secure the scene
Who is known as the “father of forensic science”?
Edmond Locard
What tool helps scientists look at small pieces of evidence?
Microscope
What makes fingerprints unique?
The ridge patterns are different for every person
Where in the body can DNA be found?
In almost every cell
What do investigators take to record the scene?
Photos and notes
What is Locard’s Exchange Principle?
Every contact leaves a trace
What do investigators use to measure a crime scene?
Measuring tape or scale
What substance on our skin creates fingerprints on surfaces?
Natural oils and sweat
True or False: Identical twins have the same DNA.
True
What is the term for an object that helps link a suspect to a crime?
Physical evidence
Which famous fictional detective used early forensic methods?
Sherlock Holmes
What tool can detect hidden fingerprints using light?
UV light or alternate light source
What is it called when a fingerprint is left on a surface without ink or dust?
Latent print
What type of evidence is DNA considered—class or individual?
Individual evidence
Why is wearing gloves important?
To avoid contamination
What type of evidence helped identify people in ancient times before DNA?
Fingerprints
What do detectives use to find hidden prints?
Powder and tape
What year did fingerprints start being used in police work?
Around 1901
Name THREE biological sample that can provide DNA.
Hair root, saliva, blood, skin cells, etc.
What’s the difference between a primary and secondary crime scene?
Primary = where the crime happened; Secondary = related location.
What U.S. agency runs the national DNA database?
The FBI (CODIS system)
What kind of expert studies blood patterns at a crime scene?
Blood spatter analyst