Law midterm Flashcards
Agglutination-
Clumping of cells caused by an antigen-antibody response
Allele-
An alternative form of a gene
Amorphous-
Without a defined shape; fibers composed of a loose arrangement of polymers that are soft, elastic, and absorbing (for example, cotton)
Analytical skills-
The ability to identify a concept or problem, to isolate its component parts, to organize information for decision-making, to establish criteria for evaluation, and to draw appropriate conclusions
Angiosperm-
A flowering plant that produces seeds within a fruit
Angle of impact-
Angle at which blood strikes a target surface relative to the horizontal plane of the target surface
Antibodies-
Proteins secreted by white blood cells that attach to specific antigens
Antigens-
Substance that provokes an immune response in the body
Antigen-antibody response-
Reaction in which antibodies attach to specific antigens; causes agglutination in cross-blood-type transfusions
Area of convergence-
Two-dimensional view of the intersection of lines formed by drawing a line through the main axis of at least two drops of blood that indicates the general area of the source of the blood spatter
Area of origin-
The location of a blood source viewed in three dimensions as determined by projecting angles of impact of individual bloodstains
Arch-
A fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern originates from one side of the print and continues to the other side
Assemblage
Group of plant species in an area dominated by one species that share the same habitat requirements
Cast-off pattern-
Blood projected onto a surface as a result of being flung from an object in motion
Chain of Custody-
The documented and unbroken transfer of evidence
Chromosome-
Nuclear cell structure that contains DNA in humans
Circumstantial evidence-
(indirect evidence) evidence used to imply a fact but not support it directly
Class evidence-
material that connects an individual or thing to a certain group (see individual evidence)
Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)-
The FBI’s computerized criminal DNA databases as well as the software used to run these databases; includes the National DNA Index System (NDIS)
Comparison microscope-
A compound microscope that allows the side-by-side comparison of samples, such as hair or fibers
Core-
A center of a loop
Cortex-
The region of a hair located outside the medulla that contains granules of pigment
Crime-scene investigation-
A multidisciplinary approach in which scientific and legal professionals work together to solve a crime
Crime-scene reconstruction-
A hypothesis of the sequences of events from before the crime was committed through its commission
Crystalline-
Geometrically shaped; fibers composed of polymers packed side by side, which makes them stiff and strong (for example, flax)
Cuticle-
The tough outer covering of a hair that is composed of overlapping scales
Datum point-
A permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene
Deductive reasoning-
Deriving a conclusion from the facts using a series of logical steps
Delta-
A triangular ridge pattern
Direct evidence-
Evidence that (if authentic) supports an alleged fact of a case
Direct transfer-
The passing of evidence, such as a fiber, from victim to suspect or vice versa
DNA fingerprint (profile);
Pattern of DNA fragments obtained by analyzing a person’s unique sequences of noncoding DNA
Electrophoresis
A method of separating molecules, such as DNA, according to size
Eyewitness-
A person who has seen someone or something related to a crime and can communicate his or her observations
Exon-
portion of gene that is expressed
Fact-
A statement of information that can be verified
Fiber-
The smallest indivisible unit of a textile, it must be at least 100 times longer than wide
Fingerprint-
An impression left on any surface that consists of patterns made by the ridges on a finger
First responder-
The first safety official to arrive at a crime scene
Forensic-
Relating to the application of scientific knowledge to legal questions
Forensic botany-
The application of plant science to crime-scene analysis or the resolution of criminal cases
Forensic palynology-
The use of pollen and spore evidence to help solve criminal cases
Gas chromatography-
A method of separating chemicals to establish their quantities
Gene-
Segment of DNA that codes for a trait
Genome-
All the DNA found in human cells
Gymnosperm-
A plant with “naked” seeds that are not enclosed in a protective organ (fruit); most are evergreens
Hair follicle-
The actively growing base of a hair that contains DNA and living cells
Hair shaft-
Part of the hair above the follicle; contains mitochondrial DNA
IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System)-
FBI-developed national database of more than 76 million criminal fingerprints and criminal histories
Individual evidence-
A kind of evidence that identifies a particular person or thing
Intron-
Portion of a gene that is not expressed
Karyotype-
A picture of the paired homologous chromosomes and sex chromosomes in a cell
Keratin-
A type of fibrous protein that makes up the majority of the cortex of a hair
Latent fingerprint-
A concealed fingerprint made visible through the use of powders or forensic techniques
Logical-
Reasoned from facts
Loop-
A fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern flows inward and returns in the direction of the origin
Medulla-
The central core of a hair
Melanin granules-
Bits of pigment found in the cortex of a hair
Mineral fiber-
A collection of mineral crystals formed into a recognizable pattern
Minutiae-
The combination of details in the shapes and positions of ridges in fingerprints that makes each unique; also called ridge characteristics
Mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA)-
Genetic material in the mitochondria of the cytoplasm of a cell; only inherited from the mother
Monomer-
Small, repeating molecules that can link to form polymers
Natural fibers-
A fiber produced naturally and harvested from animal, plant, or mineral sources
Nuclear DNA-
Genetic material in the nucleus of a cell
Observations-
What a person perceives using his or her senses
Opinion-
Personal belief founded on judgment rather than on direct experience or knowledge
Palynology-
The study of pollen and spores
Paper bindle-
A folded paper used to hold trace evidence
Passive drop-
Blood drop created solely as a result of gravity
Patent fingerprint
A visible fingerprint produced when fingers coated with blood, ink, or some other substance touch a surface and transfer their print to that surface
Perception-
Information received from the senses
Pistil-
The female reproductive part of a flower where eggs are produced
Plastic fingerprint-
A three-dimensional fingerprint made in a soft material such as clay, soap, or putty
Pollen “fingerprint”-
Also called a pollen profile, the number and type of pollen grains found in a geographic area at a particular time of year
Pollen grain-
A reproductive structure that contains the male gametes of seed plants
Pollination-
The transfer of pollen from the male part to the female part of a seed plant
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-
A method of amplifying (duplicating) minute amounts of DNA evidence for use in investigations
Polymorphism-
Region of repeating DNA within an intron that is highly variable from person to person
Postmortem interval (PMI)-
Time elapsed between a person’s death and discovery of the body
Polymer-
A substance composed of long chains of repeating molecules (monomers)
Primary crime scene-
The location where the crime took place
Primer-
Sequence of DNA added to trigger replication of a specific section of DNA
Restriction enzyme-
“molecular scissors”; a molecule that cuts a DNA molecule at a specific base sequences
Restriction fragment-
DNA fragment that restriction enzymes create, as in preparation for gel electrophoresis
Ridge count-
The number of ridges between the center of a delta and the core of a loop
Ridge pattern-
The recognizable pattern of the ridges found in the end pads of fingers that form lines on the surfaces of objects in a fingerprint. They fall into three categories; arches, loops, and whorls
Satellite-
Smaller droplets of blood projected from larger drops of blood upon impact with a surface
Secondary crime scene-
A location other than the primary crime scene, but that is related to the crime; where evidence is found
Secondary transfer-
The transfer of evidence such as a fiber from a source (for example, a carpet) to a person (suspect), and then to another person (victim).
Short tandem repeats (STR)-
Sequence of repeating bases in noncoding regions of DNA that are used in DNA profiling
Spine-
Elongated blood streaks radiating away from the center of a bloodstain
Spore-
An asexual reproductive structure that can develop into an adult found in certain protists (algae) and plants and fungi
Stamen-
The male reproductive part of a flower consisting of the anther and filament where pollen is produced
Swipe-
Blood pattern resulting from a lateral transfer from a moving source onto another surface
Synthetic fiber-
A fiber made from a manufactured substance such as plastic
Ten card-
A form used to record and preserve a person’s fingerprints
Textile-
A flexible, flat material made by interlacing yarns (or threads)
Trace evidence-
Small but measurable amounts of physical or biological material found at a crime scene
Triangulation-
A mathematical method of estimating the positions of objects at a location such as a crime scene, given locations of stationary objects
Warp-
A lengthwise yarn or thread in a weave
Weft-
A crosswise yarn or thread in a weave
Whorl-
A fingerprint pattern that resembles a bull’s eye
Wipe-
Smeared blood pattern created when an object moves through blood that is not completely dried
Yarn (thread)-
Fibers that have been spun together
