Chapter 3 vocab

Question 1

compound microscope

Answer 1

a compound microscope that allows the side by side comparison of samples, such as hair or fibers

Question 2

cortex

Answer 2

region of the hair outside the medulla that has granules of pigment

Question 3

cuticle

Answer 3

the tough outer covering of a hair that is
composed of overlapping scales

Question 4

gas chromatography

Answer 4

method of separating chemicals to establish their components

Question 5

hair follicle

Answer 5

the actively growing base of a hair that
contains nuclear DNA and living cells

Question 6

hair shaft

Answer 6

hair shaft part of the hair above the follicle;
contains mitochondrial DNA

Question 7

isotope signature or isotope fingerprint

Answer 7

is a ratio of different isotopes found in an individual

Question 8

isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS)

Answer 8

a technology that allows examiners to analyze ratios of isotopes each of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur

Question 9

keratin

Answer 9

a type of fibrous protein that makes up
the majority of the cortex of a hair

Question 10

medulla

Answer 10

the central core of a hair medullary index
the ratio of the medulla to the width of the hair

Question 11

melanin granules

Answer 11

bits of pigment found in the cortex of a hair

Question 12

mitochondrialDNA(mtDNA)

Answer 12

genetic material in the mitochondria of the cytoplasm of a cell; usually inherited from the mother

Question 13

nuclearDNA

Answer 13

genetic material in the nucleus of a
cell; inherited from the mother and the father

Question 14

neutron activation analysis (NAA)

Answer 14

a process that relies on determining the concentrations of elements in materials by creating radioactive decay paths that can be identified and used to date archaeological specimens, gunshot residue, arsenic
in hair, and geographic locations