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legal medicine > Chapter 3: Medico-Legal Aspects of Identification > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Medico-Legal Aspects of Identification Flashcards

1
Q

What is identification?

A

Identification is the determination of the individuality or a person or thing.

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2
Q

What is the importance of identification?

A
  1. In the prosecution of the criminal offense, the identity of the offender and that of the victim must be established
  2. The identification of a person missing or presumed dead will facilitate settlement of the estate, retirement, insurance and other social benefits.
  3. Identification resolves the anxiety of the next-of-kin, other relatives and friends
  4. Identification may be needed in some transactions, like cashing of check, entering a premise, delivery of parcels or registered mail in post office, sale of property, release of dead bodies to relatives, parties to a contract, etc
  5. Age determination in criminal liability
  6. Disputed sex
  7. Interchange of newborn babies in hospitals
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3
Q

What are the rules in personal identification?

A
  1. The Multiplicity of Evidence in Identification. The greater the number of points of similarities and dissimilarities of two persons compared, the greater is the probability for the conclusion to be correct.
  2. The value of the different points of identification varies in the formulation of conclusion.
  3. The longer the interval between the death and the examination of the remains for purposes of identification, the greater is the need for experts in establishing identity.
  4. Act in the shortest possible time specially in cases of mass disaster.
  5. No rigid rule to be observed in the procedure of identi- fication of persons.
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4
Q

What are the methods of identification?

A
  1. Ordinary Methods
  2. Scientific Methods
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5
Q

What consist ordinary methods of identification?

A

In the ordinary method, points of identification include those that may or may not easily be changed in case of living persons, and those applicable to both living and dead before the onset of decomposition.

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6
Q

What are the points of identification that may easily be changed in case of living persons?

A

Points of identification that may easily be changed in case of living persons
* Growth of hair, mustach or beard
* Clothing
* Frequent places of visits
* Grade of profession
* Body ornamentations

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7
Q

What are the points of identification that may not easily be changed in case of living persons?

A

Points of identification that may not easily be changed in case of living persons
* Mental memory
* Speech
* Gait
* Mannerisms
* Hands and Feet (sizes)
* Facial expression
* Left or Right-handedness
* Degree of Nutrition

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8
Q

What are the points of identification applicable to both living and dead before the onset of decomposition?

A

Applicable to both living and dead before the onset of decomposition
* Occupational marks
* Race
* Stature
* Tattoo marks
* Weight
* Deformities
* Birth marks
* Moles
* Scar
* Tribal Marks
* Sexual organ
* Blood examination

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9
Q

What is the term used to describe the manner of walking or foot sequences in humans and/or animals?

A

Gait

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10
Q

What are the types of gait?

A
  1. Ataxic gait — A gait in which the foot is raised high, thrown forward and brought down suddenly is seen in persons suffering from tabes dorsalis.
  2. Cow’s gait — A swaying movement due to knock-knee.
  3. Paretic gait — Gait in which the steps are short, the feet are dragged and the legs are held more or less widely apart.
  4. Spastic gait— A gait in which the legs are held together and move in a stiff manner and the toes dragged.
  5. Festinating gait— Involuntary movement in short accele- rating steps.
  6. Frog gait — A hopping gait resulting from infantile paralysis.
  7. Waddling gait — Exaggerated alternation of lateral trunk movement similar to the movement of the duck.
  8. Cerebellar gait — A gait associated with staggering movement is seen in cerebellar diseases.
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11
Q

What are the scientific methods of identification?

A
  1. Anthropometry
  2. Dactylography or Fingerprinting
  3. DNA
  4. Dental Identification or Forensic Odontology
  5. Lip Print
  6. Handwriting
  7. Identification of skeleton or Forensic Anthropology
  8. Determination of Sex
  9. Determination of Age
  10. Identification of Blood
  11. Identification of Hair and Fibers
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12
Q

What is Anthropometry?

A

Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the human individual as basis of identification.

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13
Q

Who devised the scheme of Anthropometry?

A

Alphonse Bertillon, a French criminologist
(1853 - 1914)
* The father of criminal identification or scientific detection
* Inventor of mug shot

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14
Q

What is the term used to describe the verbal, accurate and picturesque description of the person identified?

A

Portrait Parle

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15
Q

What are the extrinsic factors of identification?

A

Ornamentations
Personal belongings
Wearing apparel
Foreign bodies
Identification by close friends and relatives.
Identification records on file at the police department, immi- gration bureau, hospitals, etc.
Identification photograph.

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16
Q

What is the is the art and study of recording fingerprints as a means of identification?

A

Dactylography

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17
Q

True or False

Identical twins have the same DNA configuration but they do not have identical friction ridge configuration (fingerprints)

A

True

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18
Q

True or False

Fingerprinting is considered to be the most valuable method of identification

A

True

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19
Q

What are the reasons why fingerprints are universally used in identification?

A
  1. There are no two identical fingerprint. The chances of two fingerprints being the same are calculated to be 1 to 64,000,000,000 which is ten times the number of fingers existing in the world.
  2. Fingerprints are not changeable. The finger may be wounded or burned, but the whole pattern with all its details will reappear when the wound heals.
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20
Q

What are the advantages of dactylography?

A

Inexpensive
Perenniality (lasts for a long time)
Immutability (not changing over time)
Infinite variety (no two identical fingerprints)

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21
Q

Define dactyloscopy

A

Dactyloscopy is the art of identification by comparison of fingerprints. It is the study and utilization of fingerprints.

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22
Q

What is poroscopy?

A

(Locard’s method of identification)
Poroscopy is the study of the pores found on the pappillary or friction ridges of the skin for purposes of identification.

Examination of the ridges of the hands and fingers reveal to be
studded with minute pores which are the openings of ducts or sweat glands. These pores are permanent as the ridges are and differ in number and shape in a given area in each person. Poroscopy, as a means of identification, is applied when only a part of the finger- print is available for proper means of identification.

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23
Q

What are the practical uses of fingerprints?

A

Help establish identity in cases of dead bodies
Prints recovers from crime scene associate in person
Prints on file are useful for comparative purposes
Among illiterates, right thumbprint is recognized as a substitute for signature
Provide biometric security
Identify amnesia victims and unknown deceased
Conduct background check
To identify individual as habitual criminal

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24
Q

Who is the father of Poroscopy?

A

Edmond Locard

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25
Q

Who is the father of fingerprint?

A

Sir Francis Galton

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26
Q

Who is the father of modern fingerprint?

A

Sir Richard Edward Henry

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27
Q

Who was considered as the grandfather of dactyloscopy?

A

In 1686, Marcelo Malpighi was considered as the grandfather of dactyloscopy and was the one who began the studies of fingerprint identification.

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28
Q

Name the Father of Dactyloscopy

A

Johannes Evangelista Purkinje

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29
Q

What are kinds of prints?

A
  1. Exemplar or Known or Real Prints
  2. Plastic Prints
  3. Visible Prints
  4. Latent or Chance Prints
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30
Q

What are Exemplar or Known or Real Prints?

A

Impression of the finger bulbs with the use of printing ink on the surface of the paper. Other coloring materials may be used but they are less visible and indelible

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31
Q

What are the methods of producing real prints?

A
  1. **Plain method **— The bulbs of the last phalanges of the fingers and thumb are pressed on the surface of the paper after pressing them /on an ink pad or ink plate with printing ink.
  2. **Rolled method **— The bulbs of the thumb and other fingers are rolled on the surface of the paper after being rolled on an ink pad or ink plate with printing ink
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32
Q

What are plastic prints?

A

Impression made by chance by pressing the finger tips on melted paraffin, putty, resin, cellophane, plastic tape, butter, soap, etc.

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33
Q

What are chance or latent prints?

A

Fingerprints which are impressed by mere chance without any intention to produce it.

Latent print — Prints which are not visible after impression but made visible by the addition of some substances. Latent prints develop because the fingers are always covered with colorless residue of oil and perspiration which when pressed on smooth and non-absorbent material will cause the production of the prints.

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34
Q

What are visible prints?

A

Impression made by chance and is visible with- out previous treatment. Impression made by the fingers smeared with some colored substances, like black ink, vegetable juice, may be visible immediately after impression.

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35
Q

How to develop latent prints?

A

(1) Application of fine powder — The choice of substance to be used to make the latent prints visible depends upon the texture and color of the material where the suspicious prints are located. The color of the substances to be used must be in contrast with that material. The following substances are commonly used to make latent prints visible:
1. Graphite for spraying or black granular
2. Aluminum powder
3. Plaster of Paris
4. Copper powder for latent prints on leather
5. Metallic antimony

(2) Chemical development by fuming and immersion — Fuming by iodine or arsenic acid or immersion in a solution of silver nitrate may develop latent prints
* Super glue or cyanoacrylate
* Chemical Developer
* Atomic Force Microscope

(3) Alternate Light Source (ALS)

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36
Q

What is the chemical that turns latent prints purple?

A

Ninhydrin
Ninhydrin is an organic compound with the formula C₆H₄(CO)₂C(OH)₂. It is used to detect ammonia and amines. Upon reaction with these amines, ninhydrin gets converted into deep blue or purple derivatives, which are called Ruhemann’s purple.

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37
Q

How do you get fingerprint impressions on dead bodies?

A
  1. In cases of fresh dead bodies, the fingers are unclenched and each one is inked individually with the aid of a small rubber roller.
  2. If the so-called washerwoman’s skin is not too marked on the fingerprints of dead bodies recovered shortly from bodies of water (floaters), the fingers may be dried off with a towel and glycerin is injected with a syringe under the skin of the finger tips in order to smoothen the surface.
  3. If the “floater” has been in a body of water for a longer time and the friction ridges have disappeared, the skin of the fingertips is cut away. This area of skin from each finger is placed in a small labelled test tubes containing formaldehyde solution. If the papillary ridges are still preserved on the outer surface, the person taking the prints places a portion of the skin on his right index finger protected by a rubber glove and then takes the print after inking the finger tip.
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38
Q

What are the types of fingerprint patterns?

A
  1. Loops (65%): at least one ridge enters the leaves from the same side
  2. Whorls (25%): at least two deltas and a core
  3. Arches (7%): ridges enter on one side and exit on the other
  4. Composite (2% -3%)
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39
Q

What are the types of loops?

A
  1. **Ulnar loop ** — Recurves towards the ulnar side of the hand or little finger.
  2. **Radial loop ** — Recurves towards the radial side of the hand or thumb.
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40
Q

What are the types of whorls?

A
  1. Simple whorls — Consist of two deltas with a core consisting of circles, ellipses, or spiral turning to the right or left
  2. Central pocket loop- — It is like simple loop but in the core, one may find one ridge which forms a convex towards the opening of the loop.
  3. Lateral pocket loops — There are at least two loops opening at the same side
  4. Twin loop— There are at least two loops opening at the dif- ferent sides.
  5. Accidentals — There are no rules that can be made in this pattern. They are rare and often with more than two deltas
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41
Q

Can fingerprints be effaced?

A

No.
As long as the dermis of the bulbs of the finger is not completely destroyed, the fingerprints will always remain unchanged and indestructible.

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42
Q

Can fingerprints be forged?

A

No.
Various experiments were conducted by authorities and although they could almost make an accurate reproduction, still there is no case on record known or have been written that forgery of fingerprints has been a complete success.

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43
Q

How are patent prints collected?

A

By photography

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44
Q

Enumerate the steps in Fingerprints Analysis Process

A
  1. Analysis
  2. Comparison
  3. Evaluation
  4. Verification
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45
Q

What is the Henry Classification System

A

Henry’s classification system assigned a value to each individual finger.
* It gained worldwide acceptance in 1899
* Allows for up to 1,024 primary groupings

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46
Q

How are fingers classified under the Henry Classification System?

A

(1) Fingers on each hand are given an identifying number.
* Starting with the right thumb, fingers on the right hand are numbered from one to 5.
* On the left hand, starting from the thumb, they are numbered 6 to 10.

(2) Each finger is given a value only if it has a
whorl design. If the finger has an arch or loop, it is given a value of zero.
* Right thumb and right index are given the value of 16
* Right middle and right ring are given the value of 8
* Right pinky is given the value of 4
* Left thumb is given the value of 4
* Left index and right middle are given the value of 2
* Left ring and left pinky are given the value of 1**

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47
Q

How to compute the primary classification system (PCS) under the Henry Classification System?

A

PMS = [1+ (sum of the value of even fingers)] / [1 + (sum of the value of odd fingers)]

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48
Q

What is a minutiae?

A

Fingerprint minutiae are the minute characteristics of friction ridge skin that make the forensic use of fingerprint identification possible: even two people who have the same number of arches, loops, and whorls on their fingers will have different configurations of minutiae.

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49
Q

Provide examples of fingerprint minutiae

A

ridge ending
bifurcation
dot
island (short ridge)
lake (enclosure)
hook (spur)
bridge
double bifurcation
trifurcation
opposed bifurcations
ridge crossing
opposed bifurcation / ridge ending

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50
Q

When is a finger similar compared to a standard?

A

While there is no legal requirements in the US regarding the number of points that must match before deciding that a fingerprint belongs to a certain individual, criminal courts generally accept 8-12 points of similarity.

Under Philippine jurisprudence, 10 points of agreement is accepted.

Summary:
* US: 8-12 points
* PHL: 10 points

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51
Q

Are fingerprints admissible?

A

Yes.
It is now well settled that evidence as to the correspondence of finger prints is admissible for the purpose of proving identity.
(PP vs. Diokno, G.R. No. L-38434)

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52
Q

What animals have fingerprints like humans?

A
  • Koala
  • Chimpanzee
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53
Q

Under the heirarchy of burden of proof, under what classification does fingerprints fall?

A

Circumstantial Evidence

54
Q

What is DNA?

A

Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNA is “spooled” or coiled within chromosomes.
It acts as a type of chemical code that contains instructions, known as genes, for how the body and all its different parts grow, develop, function, and maintain themselves

55
Q

True or False

If unspooled, the human DNA would stretch approximately 67 billion miles.

A

True

56
Q

How many cells does a human body contains?

A

60 trillion cells

57
Q

What is the one cell that does not have a nucleus?

A

Red blood cells
Losing the nucleus enables the red blood cell to contain more oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, thus enabling more oxygen to be transported in the blood and boosting our metabolism.

58
Q

How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

A

23 pairs of chromosomes — 22 pairs of autosomal where genetic information is stored; 1 pair of sex chromosomes

Chromosomes in other organisms:
* pea plant: 7 pairs
* sunflower: 17 pairs
* cat: 19 pairs
* puffer fish: 21 pairs
* dog: 39 pairs

59
Q

What are the chromosomes in a male human?

A

XY

60
Q

What are the chromosomes in females?

A

XX

61
Q

What are the chromosomes in intersex humans?

A

XXY

62
Q

What is RNA?

A

Ribonucleic Acid
Ribonucleic acid (abbreviated RNA) is a nucleic acid present in all living cells that has structural similarities to DNA. Unlike DNA, however, RNA is most often single-stranded.

63
Q

DNA material is made up of coding and non-coding regions, what is the percentage of the non-coding regions and what is it called?

A

90% - 95% of DNA are non-coding genes. Scientists call them Junk DNA.

64
Q

What is the use of DNA in legal medicine?

A
  • DNA Profiling
  • DNA Typing
  • DNA Fingerprinting
65
Q

Who discovered DNA profiling, DNA typing, and DNA fingerprinting?

A

Sir Alec Jeffreys

66
Q

What is DNA Typing?

A

DNA typing is a laboratory procedure that detects normal variations in a sample of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA typing is most often used to establish identity, parentage, family relationship and appropriate matches for transplantation of organs and tissues.

67
Q

Enumerate the 5 techniques to conduct DNA typing

A
  1. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)
  2. Reverse Dot Blot or HLA DQ a/Pm Loci
  3. mtDNA process
  4. Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR)
  5. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
68
Q

What is the term used to describe the process of fertilized cell division?

A

Meiosis
Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells, with each one containing half of the original amount of genetic information, which are called Haploid cells.

69
Q

What percentage of DNA is similar to all humans?

A

99.9%

70
Q

What tool is used for PCR?

A

Thermal Cycler or Thermocycler
The entire cycling process of PCR is automated and can be completed in just a few hours. It is directed by a machine called a thermocycler, which is programmed to alter the temperature of the reaction every few minutes to allow DNA denaturing and synthesis.
* Each cycle takes about 5 minutes
* Typically runs 25 to 35 cycles each time

71
Q

What is PCR?

A

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows a specific region of DNA to be repeatedly duplicated.
* 25 to 35 cycles in a thermal cycler results to 1 million copies
* With very small trace but converted 1 million times

72
Q

What are the basic steps in PCR?

A

The basic steps are:
* Denaturation (96°C): Heat the reaction strongly to separate, or denature, the DNA strands. This provides single-stranded template for the next step.
* Annealing (55 - 65°C): Cool the reaction so the primers can bind to their complementary sequences on the single-stranded template DNA.
* Extension (72°C): Raise the reaction temperatures so Taq polymerase extends the primers, synthesizing new strands of DNA.

73
Q

What is DNA made of?

A

DNA is made of chemical building blocks called nucleotides. These building blocks are made of three parts:
* a phosphate group
* a sugar group; and
* one of four types of nitrogen bases.

To form a strand of DNA, nucleotides are linked into chains, with the phosphate and sugar groups alternating.

74
Q

What is the rule on DNA Evidence?

A

The appropriate court may, at any time, either motu proprio or on application of any person who has a legal interest in the matter in litigation, order a DNA testing.

The Rule shall not preclude a DNA testing, without need of a prior court order, at the behest of any party, including law enforcement agencies, before a suit or proceeding is commenced.
(Sec. 4, Rule on DNA Evidence 2007)

75
Q

Is post-conviction DNA Testing allowed?

A

Yes
Post-conviction DNA testing may be available, without need of prior court order.
(Sec. 6, Rule on DNA Evidence 2007)

76
Q

What are the four (4) types of nitrogen basis in DNA?

A

The four types of nitrogen bases found in nucleotides are:
* adenine (A)
* thymine (T)
* guanine (G); and
* cytosine (C).

The order, or sequence, of these bases determines what biological instructions are contained in a strand of DNA. For example, the sequence ATCGTT might instruct for blue eyes, while ATCGCT might instruct for brown.

77
Q

Where can potential samples of DNA be taken?

A
  • Any biopsy tissue
  • Blood
  • Saliva
  • Vaginal fluid
  • Semen
  • Items of personal use: razor, toothpick, bottles, cans, glass, used cigarette butts, bite marks, bone teeth, hair, and clothes, or any type of biological remains
  • Urine
  • Hair follicles bearing cells
78
Q

Define Short tandem repeats

A

Short tandem repeat (STR) technology is a forensic analysis that evaluates specific regions (loci) that are found on nuclear DNA. The variable (polymorphic) nature of the STR regions that are analyzed for forensic testing intensifies the discrimination between one DNA profile and another.

Short tandem repeats (STR) are randomly distributed DNA sequences in which 2-6bp are tandemly repeated. These are scattered on all chromosomes including the autosomes as well as the sex chromosomes.
* The sequence “GATA” is repeated several times.

79
Q

What is Mitochondrial Analysis?

A

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis allows forensic laboratories to develop DNA profiles from evidence that may not be suitable for RFLP or STR analysis.

While RFLP and PCR techniques analyze DNA extracted from the nucleus of a cell, mtDNA technology analyzes DNA found in a different part of the cell, the mitochondrion. Old remains and evidence lacking nucleated cells — such as hair shafts, bones, and teeth — that are unamenable to STR and RFLP testing may yield results if mtDNA analysis is performed.

80
Q

What is DNA Fingerprinting?

A

DNA fingerprinting is a chemical test that shows the genetic makeup of a person or other living things. It’s used as evidence in courts, to identify bodies, track down blood relatives, and to look for cures for disease.

81
Q

What are the challenges of using DNA as evidence?

A
  • Privacy issues: key disadvantage - invasion of individual privacy
  • Lack of expertise
  • Low template DNA
  • DNA mixtures
  • Touch DNA
  • Ecological Impacts
  • Fake DNA marks
  • Instrumental troubles
  • Hacking
82
Q

How many short tandem repeats accepted in US?

A

13
13-STR profile is a widely used means of identification in the US

83
Q

How many short tandem repeats accepted in UK?

A

10
10-STR profile is a widely used means of identification in the UK

84
Q

Enumerate the STR profiles and its equivalent possibilities

A
  • 3-STR: 1 in 5000 possibility
  • 6-STR: 1 in 2 000 000
  • 9-STR: 1 in 1 000 000 000
  • 13-STR: 1 in 100s of trillions
85
Q

What are the two kinds of DNA within our cell?

A

The two kinds of DNA within our cell are –
* autosomal DNA and
* mitochondrial DNA.

Autosomal DNA (also called nuclear DNA) is packaged into 22 paired chromosomes. In each pair of autosomes, one was inherited from the mother and one was inherited from the father.

Mitochondrial DNA is the circular chromosome found inside the cellular organelles called mitochondria. Located in the cytoplasm, mitochondria are the site of the cell’s energy production and other metabolic functions. Offspring inherit mitochondria — and as a result mitochondrial DNA — from their mother.

86
Q

From whom does a child inherit mitochondrial DNA?

A

From his/her mother

87
Q

Why is dental identification important?

A
  1. The possibility of two persons to have the same dentition is quite remote.
  2. The enamel of the teeth is the hardest substance of the human body. It may outlast all other tissues during putrefaction or physical destruction.
  3. After death, the greater the degree of tissue destruction, the greater is the importance of dental characteristics as a means of identification.
  4. The more recent the ante-mortem records of the person to be identified, the more reliable is the comparative or exclusionary mode of identification that can be done.
88
Q

What are the methods to identify a person using teeth?

A
  1. Extract DNA from the pulp chamber
  2. Examine dental records to match a corpse or to match a bite mark to a perpatrator
  3. Utilize ameloglyphics or enamel rod patterns or tooth prints
  4. Use of amelogenin gene
89
Q

What are the causes of unreliability of the dental records?

A
  1. The dentist, in the course of diagnosis and treatment of the patient, may only concern himself with the affected teeth and may not care to have a detailed examination of the other teeth.
  2. There may be no uniformity in nomenclature of the location and condition in the charting of the teeth.
  3. Although there may be a law obliging dentists to have a record of their patient, the law does not mention the agency which will enforce it.
  4. The dentist may have a record but may no longer be reliable on account of the lapse of time.
90
Q

What is Cheiloscopy?

A

Cheiloscopy is a forensic investigation technique that deals with identification of humans based on lips traces.

91
Q

Enumerate the classifications of lip prints

A
  • Type I: Vertical — Clear-cut grooves running vertically across the lip; the grooves are straight but disappear half-way instead of covering the entire breadth of the lip
  • Type II: Branched — The grooves fork in their course
  • Type III: Intersected — The grooves intersect
  • Type IV: Reticular — The grooves reticulate
  • Type V: Undertimed — The grooves do not fall into any types I-IV, and cannot be differentiated morphologically
92
Q

What is the common lip print pattern in females?

A

Vertical
Specially, the grooves are straight but disappear half-way instead of covering the entire breadth of the lip

93
Q

What is the common lip print pattern in males?

A

Intersected

94
Q

How is handwriting proved?

A

The handwriting of a person may be proved:
* by any witness who believes it to be the handwriting of such person, and has seen the person write, or has seen writing purporting to be his upon which the witness has acted or been charged, and has thus acquired knowledge of the handwriting of such person.
* by a comparison, made by the witness or the court, with writings admitted or treated as genuine by the party against whom the evidence is offered, or proved to be genuine to the satisfaction of the judge.

95
Q

Explain the rule on the opinion of a witness regarding the identity of handwriting

A

In order for an ordinary witness to be qualified to express his opinion, it must be shown that he has some familiarity with the handwriting of the person in a way recognized by law.
* when he has knowledge of the person or handwriting;
* the opinion of a subscribing witness to a writing;
* the validity of which is in dispute, respecting the mental sanity of the signer; and
* the opinion of an intimate acquaintance respecting the mental sanity of a person, the reason for the opinion being given, may be received as evidence.

96
Q

What are the scientific foundation of handwriting analysis?

A
  1. Principle of individuality or Principle of uniqueness
  2. Variations
  3. Skill Level
97
Q

Enumerate the practical uses of handwriting examination

A
  1. Financial crimes (bogus checks, credit card fraud, embezzlement).
  2. Death investigation (suicide notes, hotel registration cards, letter af explanation),
  3. Robberies (pawnshop notes, cashing of stolen checks)
  4. Kidnapping with ransom (demand note, threatening letter).
  5. Anonymous threatening letters.
  6. Falsification of documents (deeds of conveyance, receipts).
98
Q

What is the science of handwriting analysis?

A

Bibliotics
The study of documents and writing materials to determine its genuineness or authorship.

99
Q

What is graphology?

A

Graphology is the study of handwriting for the purpose of deter- mining the writer’s personality, character and aptitude. It is a pseudo-science and merely explains the characteristics of the hand- writing reflecting the character, weakness, personal idiosyncracies, mannerisms and ambition of the writer.

100
Q

Define handwriting

A

Handwriting is a complex interaction of nerves, memory and muscular movement.

101
Q

What are the movements in handwriting?

A
  1. Finger movement
  2. Hand movement
  3. Arm movement
  4. Whole arm movement
102
Q

What are the factors that may cause variations in handwriting?

A
  • Worry
  • Anxiety
  • Anger
  • Feeling of insecurity
  • Age
  • Drunkenness
103
Q

May the opinion of handwriting experts be received as evidence?

A

Yes
The opinion of a witness on a matter requiring special knowledge, skill, experience, or training which he has shown to possess, may be received in evidence.

104
Q

What are the purposes of handwriting examination?

A

To determine:
1. Whether the document was written by the suspect.
2. Whether the document was written by the person whose signature it bears.
3. Whether the writing contains additions or deletions.
4. Whether the document such as bills, receipts, suicide notes or checks are genuine or a forgery.

105
Q

What are the two types of standard (exemplar) writings with which the questioned writing has to be compared?

A
  1. Collected (procured) standards — These consist of handwriting by the person who is suspected to have written the questioned document.
  2. Requested standard — These are standards made by the alleged writer of the document in question upon request of the examiner or the persons interested in the examination.
106
Q

What is disguised writing?

A

Disguised writing is the
* deliberate attempt on the part of the writer to alter his writing habit by endeavoring to invent a new writing style or
* by imitating the writing of another person.

107
Q

What is forensic anthropology?

A

Forensic anthropology is a special sub-field of physical anthropology (the study of human remains) that involves applying skeletal analysis and techniques in archaeology to solving criminal cases.

108
Q

What are the points that can be determined by forensic anthropology?

A
  1. Whether the remains are of human origin or not.
  2. Whether the remains belong to a single person or not.
  3. Gender
  4. Age
  5. Height
  6. Race or Ethnicity
  7. Length of interment or length of time from date of death (when the person died).
  8. How a person died: Presence or absence of ante-mortem or post-mortem bone injuries; Congenital deformities and acquired injuries on the hard tissues causing permanent deformities.
  9. Clues as to the manner of death
109
Q

What are the differences between male and female pelvis?

A

Male
* Narrower pelvis, more vertical illium, triangular sacrum, deeper iliac fossa, heart-shaped pelvic inlet, narrow pelvic outlet, etc.

Female
* Broader pelvis, less vertical illium, broad and short sacrum, shallower iliac fossa, circular-shaped pelvic inlet, enlarged pelvic outlet, etc.

110
Q

How is sex determined from skeletons?

A

(1) Based on cranial features
* Crests and ridges: more pronounced in males, than in females
* Chin: significantly more square in males, rounded in females
* Jaw: mastoid process wide and robust in males
* Forehead: slopes more in males

(2) Fingerprints
(3) DNA
(4) Lip print

111
Q

How to determine whether the remains are of human origin or not?

A

The shape, size and general nature of the remains, especially that of the head, must be studied.

The oval or round shape of the skull and the less prominent lower jaw and nasal bone are suggestive of human remains.

112
Q

How to determine whether the remains comes from a single individual or not?

A

A complete lay-out of the bones on a table in their exact locations in the human body is necessary.

Any plurality or excess of the bones after a complete lay-out denotes that the remains belong to more than one person.

113
Q

How is height measured in forensic anthropology?

A

Several formulae using different constants have been forwarded in the approximation of the height of a person by measuring the long bones of the body.
1. Actual measurement of the skeleto — To the actual length of the skeleton add 1 to 1-1/2 in. for the soft tissue.
2. Pearson’s Formulae for the reconstruction of the living stature of long bones, whose animal matters have disappeared and which are
in a dry state.

114
Q

How is age determined in forensic anthropology?

A

The age of the person to whom the skeleton belongs may be determined by:
* Appearance of the ossification centers
* Union of Bones and Epiphyses
* Dental Identification
* Obliteration of cranial sutures

115
Q

How to determine the race or ethnicity of the skeleton?

A

The following points may be used in determining the race in the remains of a person:
* Extrinsic Factors — Color of the skin, Facial features, Nature of the hair, Mode of dressing;
* Indices — Skull, Pelvis, Extremities

116
Q

Describe the different racial characteristics of Skeletons

A

Asian
Circular orbits

Caucasian or European
High projecting nasal bones, rectangular “aviator glasses” shaped orbits
* Skull — Elongated
* Forehead — Raised
* Face — Proportionately small
* Upper Extremity — Small
* Lower Extremity — Normal

African
Alveolar Prognathism; rectangular orbits, broad nasal aperture, rounded nasal sill.
* Skull — Narrow and elongated
* Forehead — Small and compressed
* Face — Malar bones and jaw projecting; teeth set obliquely
* Upper Extremity — Long in proportion to body; forearm large in proportion to arm; hand small
* Lower Extremity — Legs large in proportion to thighs; feet wide and flat, heelbones projecting backwards.

Mongolian
* Skull — Square
* Forehead — Inclined
* Face — Small
* Upper Extremity — Small
* Lower Extremity — Small

117
Q

Enumerate the reproductive organs, sex cells, and hormones in males and females

A

Males
* Reproductive organs — Vas deferens, scrotum, testicles
* Sex cells — Sperm cells
* Hormones — Testosterone

Males
* Reproductive organs — Ovary, uterus, ovum, fallopian tube
* Sex cells — Egg cells
* Hormones — Progesterone, Estrogen

118
Q

What are the differences between Sex and Gender

A

Sex is biologically defined — from chromosomes, reproductive organs and genitalia, and hormones.

Gender is culturally defined — based on roles and responsibilities, attributes, and entitlements

119
Q

What is the legal importance in determining the age of a person?

A
  1. As an aid to identification
  2. Determination of criminal liability
  3. Determination of the right of suffrage
  4. Determination whether a person can exercise civil rights
  5. Determination of the capacity to contract marriage
  6. As a requisite to certain crimes
120
Q

What are the tests to determine sex?

A
  1. Social test
  2. Genital test
  3. Gonadal test
  4. Chromosomal test
121
Q

What are the types of evidences of sex?

A

(1) Presumptive evidences:
* General features and contour of the face. cK^Presence or absence of hair in some parts of the body.
* Length of the scalp hair. Generally, the female has long hair in the scalp than that of the male.
* Clothes and other wearing apparel, but not in a transvestite
* Figure — Females have prominent pelvis, while those of the males are slender.
* Habit or inclination — Pseudohermaphrodite are persons who have the gonadal tissue of one sex and the behavior of the opposite sex

(2) Highly probable evidences of sex:
* Possession of vagina, uterus and accessories in female, and penis in male.
* Presence of developed and large breasts in female.
* Muscular development and distribution of fat in the body.

(3) Conclusive evidence:
* Presence of ovary in female and testis in males

122
Q

Enumerate the legal importance of the study of blood

A
  1. For disputed parentage (maternity nnd paternity):
  2. Circumstantial or corroborative evidence against or in favor of the perpetrator of a crime
  3. Determination of the cause of death
  4. Determination of the direction of escape of the victim or the assailant
  5. Determination of the approximate time the crime was committed
  6. Determination of of the place of commission of the crime.
  7. Determination of the presence of certain diseases
123
Q

Enumeration the problems to be answered in the examination of blood

A
  1. Determine whether the stain is due to blood.
  2. If due to blood, determine whether it is of human origin or not
  3. If it is of human origin, to what group does it belong?
  4. Does it belong to the person in question?
  5. The manner, degree and condition of the article which have been stained
  6. Age of the stain.
124
Q

Enumerate the physical examinations of blood identification

A
  1. Solubility test
  2. Heat test
  3. Luminescence test
125
Q

Enumerate the chemical examinations of blood identification

A
  1. Saline extract of the blood stain plus ammonia
  2. Benzidine test
  3. Guaiacum test (Van Deen’s Dyas’ or Schombein’s Test)
  4. Phenolphthalein test (Kastle-Meyer Test)
  5. Leucomalachite Green test
126
Q

**Define Bloodstain pattern analysis **

A

Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is the interpretation of bloodstains at a crime scene in order to recreate the actions that caused the bloodshed. Analysts examine the size, shape, distribution and location of the bloodstains to form opinions about what did or did not happen.

127
Q

What is blood grouping?

A

The term “blood group” refers to the entire blood group system comprising red blood cell (RBC) antigens whose specificity is controlled by a series of genes which can be allelic or linked very closely on the same chromosome.

All human beings have their blood belonging to any of the four principal blood groups — AB, A, B, and O

128
Q

What is the value of blood typing?

A

It may solve disputed parentage (paternity or maternity). A positive result is not conclusive that the one in question is the offspring, but a negative result is conclusive that he is not the child of the alleged parents.

129
Q

What are the differences between hair forcibly extracted and naturally shed hair?

A

If a hair-root has been extracted forcibly, the bulb is irregular in form due to rupture of the sheath and shows an undulating surface, together with excrescences of different shapes and sizes.

A naturally shed bulb has a rounded extremity, a smooth surface, and most probably show signs of atrophic or fatty degeneration, especially in an elderly person.

130
Q

What is biometrics?

A

Biometrics is the measurement and statistical analysis of people’s unique physical and behavioral characteristics.

The technology is mainly used for identification and access control or for identifying individuals who are under surveillance.

131
Q

Enumerate the two types of biometrics used in the Philippines

A
  1. Fingerprint biometric
  2. Iris biometric

legal medicine (4 decks)

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