Hair and Fibers Flashcards
fiber definition
the smallest unit of a textile material that has a length many times greater than its diameter
how do fibers occur?
- naturally as plant and animal fibers
- synthetic, man-made
hairs and fibers - evidence types
- biological &/or physical
- indirect
- trace evidence
- class
4 categories of fibers
- animal fiber
- vegetable fiber
- mineral fiber
- man made fiber
animal fiber
wool is most common, but only 1% of textile fibers
vegetable fiber
- 24% of all textile fibers
- cotton is most common
mineral fiber
- rare
- only asbestos
man made (synthetic) fibers
75% of all textile fibers
characteristics of synthetic/man made fibers
- uniform
- variety of shapes
- absence of features
characteristics of animal & vegetable fibers
- irregular only
- circular to oblong
- visible features (cuticle & medulla)
what do fiber analysts compare?
- shape
- dye content
- size
- chemical composition
- microscopic appearences
fiber association
- fibers from two separate places can be associated via comparison, that does not mean they derive from the same source
- there is no fiber database that provides a probability of origin
Fiber Population Studies
relative frequencies of fiber type/color (generic) on particular surfaces
Color Block Studies
ability of a specific protocol to discriminate between similar fibers (type/color)
Target Fiber Studies
probability of finding significant numbers of a specific fiber type by random chance
direct transfer of fibers
fibers may be transferred from a victim to a suspect
example of direct transfer of fibers
fibers from victims sweater found on suspect
secondary transfer of fibers
fibers are picked up by victim and then transferred to suspect
example of secondary transfer of fibers
victim picks up fibers from his/her couch earlier in day & then transfers to the suspect later
how is primary vs secondary transfer determined?
can be determined if the order of events is known
what kind of timing is essential for fiber collection?
early collection
why is it essential that fibers are collected early?
within 24 hours an estimated 95% of all fibers may have fallen off a victim or been lost from a crime scene
which fibers at the crime scene are investigated?
only fibers not expected to be found at a crime scene are investigated