forensic science Flashcards
also known as
criminalistics, is the application
of science principles and
methods to support legal
decision-making in matters of
criminal and civil law.
Forensic science
The application of scientific methods
to the recognition, collection,
identification, and comparison of
physical evidence generated by
criminal or illegal civil activity.
criminalistics
a subspecialty of pathology that
investigates non-natural or
suspicious deaths, often referred
to as reportable deaths
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
physicians who
investigate these unexpected, suspicious, and
unnatural deaths, typically by performing
autopsies.
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Forensic Pathologist
Involves applying
skeletal analysis and techniques in archaeology to
solving criminal cases
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
determines the cause and
manner of death in cases where
the death occurred under
suspicious or unknown
circumstances
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
involves the handling, examination, and evaluation of dental evidence in a
criminal justice context.
FORENSIC ODONOTOLOGY
what does a forensic odontologist do?
- analyze and observe evidence
- attend accident or crime scene
- collect evidence
- attend autopsies
the investigation of property loss and
injuries related to failure in materials,
components, design and structures.
These can be minor incidents, such as a crankshaft breaking, or catastrophic
events, such as a bridge collapse.
forensic engineering
Contribute to legal debates by applying
scientific methods to the investigation of legal problems
FORENSIC SCIENTIST
The application of the study of blood, semen,
saliva and other body fluids, to legal matters
FORENSIC SEROLOGY
they serve as frontline
workers at the scene of a disaster or crime.
FORENSIC SCIENTIST
Health care providers in this field include
doctors, dentists and toxicologists
FORENSIC SCIENTIST
2 Types of Test for Serological Analysis:
Presumptive Test
ConfirmatoryTest
The field generally is comprised of the
detection of enzymes and antigens, as in the
identification of seminal stains or blood typing
(ABO and secretor status) and DNA typing.
FORENSIC SEROLOGY
It is done to see if a substance might be a particular body fluid. This is critical because not all fluids are
biological or relevant.
Presumptive Test
which tests positive for the substance in question and only that substance.
Confirmatory Test
highly sensitive to but not specific for a particular substance
Presumptive Test
A substance that may be blood is swabbed with ethanol; a drop of _____ reagent (typically a form of phenolphthalein) is applied followed by a drop of hydrogen peroxide.
Kastle-Meyer test
If the substance is blood the swab color should turn into
bright pink color
A substance that may be blood is swabbed with ethanol or distilled water. A drop of _____ reagent is applied followed by a drop of hydrogen peroxide.
Leucomalachite green
If the substance is blood the swab color should turn into
blue green color
made up and typically sprayed around
the crime scene where blood is suspected. The area needs to be darkened since luminol will
fluoresce blue if it contacts blood
luminol solution
particularly useful when blood is not visible to the naked eye. This chemical will pick up even trace amounts after someone has tried to clean up the
scene
luminol solution
The most commonly used catalytic color tests are:
- phenolphthalein
- benzidine
- leucomalachite green
- tetramethylbenzidine
Takayama test also known as
hemochromogen test
utilizes the formation of crystals through the application of heat and testing chemicals
Takayama test
very sensitive and even very old bloodstains may give a
positive reaction
Takayama test
TEST FOR SPECIES ORIGIN
Diffusion reaction test
Electrophoresis methods
based on an antibody-antigen reaction between human blood and human anti-serum.
Ouchterlony test
based on the diffusion of antibodies and antigens on an electrically charged gel-coated
plate
Electrophoresis methods
being supplanted by the HematraceTM card, where a positive
test is indicated by a color change
Ouchterlony test
A suspected sample is swabbed onto filter paper. A reagent is applied, nd if
semen is present, there will be a purple color change on the paper.
Acid phosphatase test
At a crime scene where semen is suspected of not being visible, a room may be darkened, and a UV light applied to surfaces.
UV Light test
is the most common test for semen. It is applied
to the sample on an alphanaphthyl phosphate substrate
Brentamine Fast Blue B
traditional method for sperm
identification is to use the
Christmas tree
stain
