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Forensic science > Hair Analysis > Flashcards

Hair Analysis Flashcards

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1
Q

Why can hair be considered both class and individual evidence?

A

Individual evidence can be derived if the follicle were intact and nuclear DNA could be retrieved from it.

hair can yield class evidence (related to hair Ancestry).

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2
Q

What is gas chromatography?

A

A method of separating chemicals to establish their quantities

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3
Q

What can be revealed about an individual if chemical tests are performed on hair?

A

It can reveal drugs, toxins, heavy metals and nutritional definiens.

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4
Q

What is nuclear DNA?

A

Genetic material in nucleus DNA.

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5
Q

What is mitochondrial DNA?

A

Genetic material in the mitochondria of the cytoplasm; only inherited from the mother

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6
Q

What are the several functions of hair?

A

regulates body temperature, decrease friction, protects against sunlight, acts as a sense organ

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7
Q

What are the two basic structures of human hair?

A

A follicle and a shaft

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8
Q

Where is the hair shaft?

A

The visable part of the hair that sticks out of the skin.

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9
Q

Where is the hair follicle?

A

is underneath the skin

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10
Q

What is hair composed of?

A

keratin

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11
Q

What are the three main components of the hair shaft?

A

Cortex, Cuticle, Medulla

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12
Q

what is the cortex?

A

The region of the hair located outside the medulla that contains granules of pigments

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13
Q

What is the cuticle?

A

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

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14
Q

What is the Medulla?

A

the central core of a hair.

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15
Q

What are melanin granules?

A

Particles of pigment found in the cortex of the hair

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16
Q

What are the five types of medulla?

A

Continuous, Interrupted, fragmented, Solid, None

17
Q

What is continuous Medulla?

A

one unbroken line of color

18
Q

What is fragmented Medulla?

A

Pigment line is unevenly spaced

19
Q

What is interrupted Medulla?

A

Pigment line broken at regular intervals

20
Q

what is solid Medulla?

A

Pigmented areas filling both the medulla and cortex

21
Q

what is none Medulla?

A

No separation pigmentation in the medulla

22
Q

Why do crime scene investigators try to collect at least 50 hairs from a crime scene?

A

To compensate for inconsistencies

23
Q

What are the six types of hair found on the human body?

A

Head hair, Eyebrow and eyelash, Beard and Mustache Hair, Underarm Hair, Body Hair, and Pubic Hair.

24
Q

What are the three stages of the hair life cycle?

A

Anagen, Catagen, Telogen

25
Q

Describe the anagen stage.

A

last roughly 1000 days
period of active growth when the cells around the follicle are dividing and depositing material within the hair.

26
Q

Describe the catagen stage.

A

the hair stops growing, and the follicle recedes

27
Q

Describe the telogen stage.

A

the hair follicle is dormant and hair is easily lost

28
Q

How does bleaching affect hair?

A

Oxidizethe natural pigment.
peroxide damages mtDNA.

29
Q

What is the difference between artificial and natural bleaching of hair?

A

Artificial shows sharp demarcations along the hair.
Natural leaves a more gradual mark.

30
Q

How much is grown after a month?

A

1.3 cm

31
Q

How can we estimate when someone last dyed his or her hair?

A

Measuring the length of hair and then divide by 1.3 provides an estimation.

32
Q

What are the three hair ancestries discussed in class?

A

European, Asian, and African

33
Q

Describe how Asian hair is different from the other two?

A

(appearance) straight
(pigment granules) Densely distributed
(Cross section) round with large diameter
(other) Shaft tends to be coarse and straight; thick cuticle; Continuous Medulla; color Black

34
Q

Describe how European hair is different from the other two?

A

(appearance) straight/Wavy
(pigment granules) Small and evenly distributed
(Cross section) oval/round of moderate diameter with minimal variation
(other) color may be blonde, red, brown, or black

35
Q

Describe how African hair is different from the other two?

A

(appearance) Kinky, Curly, or Coiled; Shaft may be buckled
(pigment granules) Densely distributed clumped, may differ in size and shape
(Cross section) flattened with moderate to small diameter and consideration variation.

36
Q

What is the difference in pigmentation in human hair and animal hair?

A

Human Hair is denser towards the cuticle, Animal Hair is denser towards the medulla.

37
Q

What is the difference in the medullary index for human hair and animal hair?

A

The ratio of the diameter of the medulla to the diameter of the entire head.
o.5 or greater…hair comes from Animal
0.33 or less.. hair comes from Human

Forensic science (1 decks)

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