Definitions
What are individualising features?
Individualising features are similarities and dissimilarities in the skeleton which can be used for a positive ID.
At what age is the cranial suture closure pattern considered stable enough for reliable forensic identification?
A) 10 years
B) 15 years
C) 20 years
D) 25 years
C) 20 years
What new biomarker has been explored for forensic identification and involves the study of proteins produced by an organism?
A) DNA sequencing
B) Proteomics
C) RNA profiling
D) Lipid analysis
B) Proteomics
Why was the program 'Snapshot' developed by Paraban?
It was developed to use a small amount of DNA to provide probabilities that a particular suspect has a certain eye, hair, and skin colour, facial shape, ancestry
Why do we identify the dead?
Identifying the dead serves several purposes, including providing information to surviving relatives, fulfilling statistical and legal requirements, registering the death for official records, facilitating burial or cremation, managing property and life insurance claims, holding inquests, and aiding police investigations.
Which of the following is not typically considered a primary identifier in forensic identification?
A) Skeletal non-metric traits
B) Surgical devices
C) Proteomics
D) Dental records
C) Proteomics
What are the applications of forensic proteomics in analyzing human samples, particularly bone proteins?
Bone Proteins: Studying collagen proteins in bones over time can distinguish forensic from non-forensic burials, aiding in determining time since death.
DNA Phenotyping: Using small DNA samples, traits like eye, hair, and skin color, facial shape, and ancestry can be probabilistically predicted, aiding in suspect identification.
What were some of the issues that Paraban encountered when developing Snapshot
Handedness : they found it can’t be predicted with high accuracy
Height : controlled by so many different DNA markers that the company can't identify all of them and give a reliable estimate
What are skeletal non-metric traits
Anomalies or variations in the normal anatomy of the skeleton that are not easily measurable but can be distinctive enough for identification purposes.
What type of bone anomaly involves an extra hole in the humerus and is considered a skeletal non-metric trait?
A) Septal aperture
B) Supratrochlear spurs
C) Spondylosis
D) Wormian bones
A) Septal aperture
What does DNA phenotyping aim to predict using DNA markers?
A) Physical appearance
B) Blood type
C) Bone density
D) Age at death
A) Physical appearance
How does Snapshot present their data to the authorities?
Present everything with a confidence value & focus on exclusions.
Tell investigators of 70% confidence that the person has blue eyes instead of green eyes, and 99% confidence that this person does not have brown eyes.
Which of the following is a common method for identifying individuals using surgical devices?
A) Matching DNA profiles
B) Comparing skeletal non-metric traits
C) Analyzing sinus morphology
D) Tracing metal alloy implants
D) Tracing metal alloy implants
Explain the concept of presenting confidence values in DNA phenotyping results and its impact on investigative strategies.
Confidence values guide investigators by suggesting likely traits with high probabilities and excluding traits with high confidence, directing their focus during suspect investigations.
How many different DNA markers did Paraban discover that height is controlled by?
~10 000 different markers
What are the individualizing features used in forensic identification, and how do they differ from one another?
Sinus Morphology: Frontal sinus morphology is often used due to its preservation qualities, with CT imaging enhancing precision.
Cranial Suture Closure Patterns: These patterns, set in childhood, are unique and can be positively identified with specific criteria, as outlined by Rogers & Allard (2004).
Surgical Devices: Metal and plastic devices, with identifiable information like company and serial numbers, are compared through x-rays.
Skeletal Non-metric Traits: Anomalies like septal apertures, supratrochlear spurs, spondylosis, extra sutural ossicles, and bifid mandibular condyles can be distinctive identifiers.
What protein marker decreases in bone proteins with increasing time since death?
COBA2 protein marker decreases with increasing time since death