chapter 3

Question 1

identification

Answer 1

the process of determining a substances physical or chemical identity

Question 2

comparison

Answer 2

the process of ascertaining whether two or more objects have a common origin

Question 3

individual characteristics

Answer 3

properties of evidence that can be attributed to a common source with an extremely high degree of certainty

Question 4

class characteristics

Answer 4

properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single source

Question 5

product rule

Answer 5

multiplying together the frequencies of independently occurring genetic markers to obtain an overall frequency of occurrence for a genetic profile

Question 6

rapid DNA

Answer 6

a process for developing DNA profiles from a buccal swab in 90 minutes or less that are compatible with a CODIS search

Question 7

true or false: one of the major deficiencies of forensic science is the inability of the examiner to assign exact or approximate probability values to the comparison of most class physical evidence

Answer 7

true

Question 8

the ____ accorded physical evidence during a trial is left entirely to the trier of fact

Answer 8

significance

Question 9

the believability of ____ accounts, confessions, and informant testimony can all be disputed, maligned, and subjected to severe attack and skepticism in the courtroom

Answer 9

eyewitness

Question 10

true or false: the distinction between individual and class evidence is always easy to make

Answer 10

false

Question 11

students studying forensic science must be cautioned that merely reading relevant textbooks and journals is no substitute for ____ in this most practical of science

Answer 11

experience

Question 12

true or false: a fingerprint can be positively identified through the IAFIS database

Answer 12

false

Question 13

the ____ database allows firearm analysts to compare markings made by firearms on bullets that have been recovered from crime scenes

Answer 13

NIBIN