Year 10 billanook forensic science test revision

End of year all topics revision

What is forensic Science?

applies scientific principles and methods to legal investigations and court proceedings

State 5 different types of “forensic scientists”

Anthropologists, entomologists, toxicologists, odontologist, and pathologist

what do anthropologists do

apply skeletal analysis and techniques in archaeology to solving criminal cases

what do entomologists do?

study insects and their life cycles to determine the time of death or other relevant information

what do toxicologists do?

analyse bodily fluids, tissues, and organs for the presence of drugs, alcohol, and poisons

what do odontologists do?

identify deceased individuals, determine the cause of death, and analyse bite mark evidence

what do pathologists do?

examine the bodies of people who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently

Locard’s Exchange Principle

when a person comes in contact with an object or another person, there is always some material transferred from one to the other

What steps are taken at a crime scene to prevent contamination?

Secure the site and wear PPE

Why are photos and drawings done at the crime scene

essential for accurately documenting the scene and evidence. And to come back and look at it later

State the 4 types of biomolecules

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids

What is the difference between contact evidence and trace evidence?

contact is from physical contact between people, objects, or surfaces whereas trace is when material is transferred during contact between two surfaces

What is an autopsy?

a medical examination of a body after death to determine the cause and often the manner of death.

What tools and techniques are used by forensic scientists?

fingerprint analysis, DNA sequencing, digital forensics, ballistics analysis, toxicology

How has the forensic techniques changed over the years and why?

more complex and advanced technology to improve accuracy

What is DNA?

the molecule that carries genetic information

What is DNA made up of?

nucleotides

what are the nucleotides?

adenine + thymine, cytosine + guanine

How is DNA used to assist in solving crimes

comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes with those of suspects or individuals in databases

What is PCR

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Why would scientists use PCR?

to amplify DNA for analysis

Stages of PCR

denaturing (heating up), annealing (cooling down), extension (heating up), then repeating again

what is gel electrophoresis?

the technique which sorts DNA fragments based on the size of the strands

Other than in forensic science, what is another situation in which gel electrophoresis would be used?

Gel electrophoresis can be used in genetic research and medical diagnostics.

What samples could a forensic scientist collect that would contain DNA?

Samples include blood, hair, skin cells, and saliva.

What are the 4 different types of blood groups?

The four blood groups are A, B, AB, and O.

How can you determine a person’s blood group?

A person’s blood group can be determined through blood typing tests.

What blood group is considered a universal donor?

Blood group O is considered a universal donor.

If you are type AB blood group, who can you receive blood from?

Type AB can receive blood from any blood group (A, B, AB, O).

State 3 clues that the shape of a blood splatter provides.

Clues include the angle of impact, the height from which it fell, and the force of impact.

What is the role of the nervous system in our body?

The nervous system coordinates and controls body activities and responses.

State the two parts of the nervous system and explain the role of each.

The two parts are the central nervous system (CNS) which processes information, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) which transmits signals to and from the CNS.

What is the polygraph test used for?

The polygraph test is used to measure physiological responses to determine truthfulness.

Explain how the polygraph test works and why it is not reliable.

It measures heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration; however, it is not reliable due to individual variability in responses.

What are the two different types of fingerprints that can be found at a crime scene?

The two types are patent (visible) and latent (invisible) fingerprints.

How can fingerprints be detected?

Fingerprints can be detected using powders, chemical reagents, or digital scanning.

state the different patterns that can be seen in fingerprints

The main patterns are loops, whorls, arches, and composites.

What are the main parts of a microscope?

eyepiece, objective lenses, and stage

How to determine the magnification of a specimen

eyepiece magnification objective lens magnification.

Explain how hair can be used as evidence at a crime scene.

Hair can provide DNA and indicate the presence of a person at the crime scene.

What information can hair tell you about who was at the crime scene?

Hair can indicate the individual’s identity, race, and possibly the time of presence.

What are the main parts of the brain?

The main parts are the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

What is memory?

Memory is the ability to store, retain, and retrieve information.

What part of the brain is responsible for memory

The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory.

There are three stages of memory. State each of these and what is involved in each of these stages.

The stages are encoding (processing information), storage (maintaining information), and retrieval (accessing information

People often refer to long

term and short

Short

term memory holds information temporarily, while long

Explain what an eyewitness testimony is.

Eyewitness testimony is a person’s account of an event they observed.

Name and explain 3 factors that can affect eyewitness testimony.

Factors include stress (affects recall), time (memory fades), and leading questions (can alter memories).

What are three principles that are now followed when conducting police line

ups or using photos to identify a suspect?

State three ways in which forensic science has improved in the last century and how these may assist scientists in the future in solving a crime.

Improvements include DNA analysis, digital forensics, and advanced imaging techniques.

What is entomology?

Entomology is the study of insects.

How can entomology be used to assist at a crime scene?

it can help estimate the time of death by analyzing insect activity on a body.

Advances in forensics that might be used in the future.

enhanced DNA sequencing and AI

What is the scientific method for experiments and research?

The scientific method includes aim, hypothesis, variables, control, interpreting results, and drawing conclusions.

What are some skills needed in science?

Skills include reading measuring cylinders and using a micropipette.

What is bioethics?

Bioethics is the study of ethical issues arising from advances in biology and medicine.