Term
| What are some common disciplines in forensics? |
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Definition
| CSI, Forensic Bio, latent print examination, controlled substance analysis, post-mortem toxicology, questioned document examination, firearms / toolmarks / other impression evidence examination, explosives / fire debris examination, and transfer (trace) evidence examination. |
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Term
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Definition
| Autopsises are used to determine the exact cuase of death and to estimate a time of death. |
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Term
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Definition
| Natural, homicide, suicide, accident, and undetermined. |
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Term
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Definition
| Identification and examination of human skeletal remains. |
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Term
| What can forensic anthropolgy reveal? |
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Definition
| An individual's origin, sex, approximate age, race, and any presence of skeletal injury. |
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Term
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Definition
| The study of insects in relation to a criminal investigation. |
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Term
| What is forensic entomolgy commonly used for? |
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Definition
| Estimating the time / location of death based on stages of insect development |
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Term
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Definition
| Uses characteristics of teeth, alignment, and overall structure to perform bitemark analysis. |
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Term
| What is forensic odontology commonly used for? |
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Definition
| Identification of victims whose bodies are unrecognizeable |
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Term
| Forensic Biology Historical Stages |
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Definition
| Antigen polymorphism to protein polymorphism to DNA polymorphism |
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Term
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Definition
| 1900, Karl Landsteiner discovered ABO blood groups, leading to forensic serology. |
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Term
| What is antigen polymorphism used for? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| 1980, approximately 100 had been discovered. |
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Term
| What was protein polymorphism used for? |
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Definition
| Combined with the blood groups, it lowered the probability of a match between two unrelated individuals. |
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Term
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Definition
| 1984, Sir Alec Jeffreys comes up with VNTR. |
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Term
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Definition
| Variable Number Tandem Repeat |
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Term
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Definition
| 1986 solved a UK murder case. Lowers the probability of an unrelated match so much that DNA can now be used to match a suspect rather than just eliminate him/her. |
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Term
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Definition
| 1980s, Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique |
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Term
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Definition
| It amplifies tiny quantities of DNA, increasing the sensitivity of forensic DNA. |
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Term
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Definition
| Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms |
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Term
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Definition
| Amplified length polymorphism |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| It greatly increased the assay sensitivity and is highly variable. |
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Term
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Definition
1995: First national DNA database for criminal investiagion in UK.
1998: " " in US - combined with CODIS |
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Term
| Mitochondrial DNA (aka mtDNA) |
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Definition
| It is maternally inherited and can be found in shed hairs (not necessarily pulled hairs). |
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Term
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Definition
| Useful when nuclear DNA is degraded or in limited amounts. |
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Term
| Polymorphic markers at the Y chromosome |
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Definition
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Term
| What are polymorphic markers at the Y chromosome frequently used for? |
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Definition
| Useful in paternity cases and sexual assault cases with multiple contributors. |
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