Soil (22-32)

Question 1

Specific considerations for packaging:

Answer 1

• Place in folded paper and sealable plastic container.
• Most samples need to be passively dried.
• Plastic bottles found in aqueous environments (river/swamp).

Question 2

Forensic geology contributes to:

Answer 2

Development of the potential location of the incident.

Question 3

No simple rules with respect to number or size of samples to meet criteria:

Answer 3

• Specialist should consider classic crime scene search patterns.
• Samples should have accurate geolocation recorded.

Question 4

Forensic investigation of soil usually involves the following:

Answer 4

• Soil collection and sampling of one or more samples.

- Soil characterization and evaluation.

Question 5

Cannabis and other plants:

Answer 5

• Most common plant material examined in forensic laboratory

- Combination of microscopic features is unique

Question 6

Identification of Herbal material:

Answer 6

• Cannabis Sativa can be identified by microscope
• Trichomes are features of the plant
  Glandular, unicellular and cystolithic
• All 3 present confirm “Cannabis Sativa.”
  Glandular trichomes are the structures in which the Cannabis resin is produced; found on the underside of leaves and occasionally on leaves.

Question 7

Palynology is:

Answer 7

• Sub discipline of botany in which pollen grains are examined and identified
• Describe and identify wide range of microscopic entities.
• Pollen and spores may persist for very long periods of time because of being chemically robust.

Question 8

Plant cells resistant to digestion:

Answer 8

• Identify types of foodstuff present.
• Low and high power microscopy.
• Histo- staining techniques.

Question 9

Partially digested food, feces, stomach contents and feces can:

Answer 9

• Identify last meal of deceased
• Establish time of death or timetable of recent events
• May place death in a window of time with other indicators
• During violent crimes, victim may defecate and traces carries away by suspect

Question 10

Forensic Botany. Typical samples encountered in forensic botany:

Answer 10

• Wood and wood fragments
• Diatoms and other algae
• Licit and illicit drugs
• Plant fibers used in the manufacture of paper and textiles
• Nonspecific plant parts, often present as trace evidence
• Pollen and pores

Question 11

Plant toxicology:

Answer 11

• Plants used for medicinal purposes because of natural pharmaceutical constituents
• Many plants contain toxins as products of normal metabolic processes
• Poisoning
  Accidental ingestion
  Misidentification
  Misadventure
• Including in plants are fungi; maybe consumed for hallucinogenic drug properties