PLTW PBS 1.1.1-1.1.3

forensic scientist

A scientist who analyzes evidence generated by criminal or civil offenses and who can offer expert testimony concerning the evidence in court of law.

link method

Method is not a geometric pattern or easily definable.

Line (Strip) Method

Used on large, outdoor crime scenes. Members of the search team are arranged at regular intervals, usually arm's length, and then proceed to search along straight lines.

Grid Method

Used on large, outdoor crime scenes. Searchers follow the first line pattern and search in the same manner as the line method. Once the first line pattern is complete, searchers realign on the other line pattern.

Zone Method

Used on crime scenes that are comprised of readily definable zones, such as in houses or buildings. Teams are assigned small zones for searching, and then other appropriate searching methods are employed in each zone.

Spiral Method (Inward or Outward)

Used on crime scenes with no physical barriers, such as with open water, etc. Can either begin at critical point of crime scene (outward spiral) or the outer-edge of the crime scene (inward spiral).

Wheel or Ray Method

Used on small, circular crime scenes. Investigators start from a critical point and travel outward along many straight lines from this point.

Biomedical Scientist

Scientist that carries out a range of laboratory and scientific tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

polygraph test

commonly known as lie detector tests, are sometimes used in forensic cases to help determine the truthfulness of someone who may be connected to a possible crime.

Poly

many

Graph

written, drawn

baseline in polygraph

data that serves as control or reference data on how the subject's body responds physiologically

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. I do. (x)

dependent variable

The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested. Done 9y)

Keratin

hard protein material found in the epidermis, hair, and nails

hair cuticle

Outermost layer of hair; consisting of a single, overlapping layer of transparent, scale-like cells that look like shingles on a roof.

hair cortex

Middle layer, hard keratin. Tapering cornified cells with pigment (gives color and connective tissue sheath around the follicle

hair medulla

The innermost of a hair, consisting of large cells and air spaces

Whorl Pattern

The fingerprint pattern that contains ridges that complete at least one 360° "circuit" in the pattern, although not always forming a regular circular pattern.

Loop Pattern

The fingerprint pattern that contains ridge lines that enter on one side of the fingerprint, run towards the middle of the print, and then curve backwards to exit on the same side that they entered the pattern.

arch pattern

The fingerprint pattern that has ridges beginning at one side of the fingerprint and running completely to the other side of the fingerprint without a backwards turn.

Fingerprint Minutiae

characteristics of ridge patterns