FS Final Review (given)

What is the primary forensic science professional organization?

AAFS: American Academy of Forensic Science

What types of “pseudoscientific” or poor forensic science techniques should no longer be used today?

**Bite Mark Analysis**, **Hair Analysis** (when used for identifying one individual based on phenotype), **Shaken Baby Syndrome Analysis**, **Cranial Sutures**

What is the ABO blood system?

The absence/presence of antigen A or antigen B on RBCs

What 4 types of blood types?

A, B, AB, O

What is the rhesus system?

Positive or negative, “Polymorphism of the RHD gene”

What are the limitations of the ABO blood system for forensic purposes?

Can’t point to one individual - can exclude some suspects if they don’t match (Let me know if either of you think of somethin better- this is a guess)

What is serology?

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Range of lab tests to detect, classify, and study bodily fluids

What are three types of blood stain patterns and what causes each?

Transfer: Smears or blood __transferred__ from one surface to another

Passive: Pools, drops, flow

**Projected/spatter**: Caused by a projection of blood caused by __impact__

What causes blood spatter/low vs. high force produces what?

Low force: __Largest__ in size

Medium force: __Smaller patterns than passive patterns__ from blunt/sharp force trauma

High force: Mist-like patterns, __smallest__

Court precedents – State v. Goode, Holmes v. State

**Goode**: NC supreme court said “Bloodstain Pattern Analysis is admissible as expert testimony”

**Holmes**: Texas said “A detective who attends a 1 week long Bloodstain Pattern Analysis workshop is good enough to testify as an expert witness”

Which state has an accreditation requirement?

Texas

What is DNA profiling?

Approach used by forensic scientists to __distinguish between individuals__ of the **same species** based on their __DNA__

Who invented DNA fingerprinting?

Sir Alec Jeffreys

Who was the first conviction using DNA?

Colin Pitchfork

(everyone in the city had to submit a DNA sample, he got his friend to turn in one for him)

What is amelogenin? How is it useful?

__Sex-typing gene__ used in __STR typing__, can help distinguish between **XX** (females, has 1 peak) and **XY** (males, has 2 peaks)

Traditional DNA testing requires a reference – know what kind for each

**Forensic**: Crime scene __evidence__ compared to a __suspect__

**Parentage**: __Child__ compared to alleged __father__

**Mass Disaster**: Victims __remains__ compared to biological __relative__

**Armed Forces**: __Soldier's remains__ compared to __DNA dog tag__

What can DNA phenotyping tell us?

Predicts genetics ancestry, eye/hair/skin color, freckles, and face shape

Investigative Genetic Genealogy uses what kind of data base?

Genetic genealogy databases

What makes up the biological profile?

Sex, Age, Stature, Ancestry

What is the best bone/aspect of the skeleton for estimating sex?

Pelvis

Why are aging methods more accurate for subadults?

The part in __tooth development__ that the remains are at can give an **estimate** between a **few months or a year** apart, this can’t be used once the teeth are done growing

Why is stature estimation not as important as other parts of the bio profile?

__Stature varies a LOT__, is only really helpful for very tall or very short individuals

What is the most difficult part of the bio profile to estimate?

**Ancestry estimation** (due to variation and admixture)

What are loops, arches, and whorls?

The 3 main classes of fingerprints (you better know what these look like or ELSE)

What is ACE-V?

__A__nalysis, __C__omparison, __E__valuation, __V__erification

What is AFIS?

Automated Fingerprint Identification System (fingerprint database)

Three types of fingerprints

**Patent**: __Transferred__ from a __liquid__ (blood) to a __different surface__

**Plastic**: __Impression__- found in something malleable

**Latent**: __Invisible__ to the naked eye (ew put some clothes on)

Who is Brandon Mayfield?

__Lawyer__ who was accused of the __Madrid Train Bombings__- had two false identifications (fingerprints)

What is evidence?

Any type of __physical evidence__, __documents__, or __testimony__

Search warrant vs. arrest warrant

**Search warrant**: __Probable cause__ that a __judge__ agreed upon and __issued a warrant__ for a search

**Arrest warrant**: __Sufficient cause__ that a person has __committed a crime__ and can be arrested

4th amendment & exceptions

**4th amendment**: Right against unreasonable search and seizures

**Exceptions**: Consent searches, after an arrest, plain view, if you run

Frye standard

General acceptance by scientific community

Federal Rules of Evidence

A witness who is qualified as an expert can testify their opinion

Daubert standard

Reliable and reproducible

Expert witness testimony

Opinion, NO absolute certainty