Forensic Science Key Terms

Flashcards covering key terms, physiological responses, experimental design, and forensic science principles based on lecture notes.

forensic science

The application of scientific knowledge to resolve questions of civil and criminal law

decedent

The person who has died in a forensic investigation

person of interest

Someone law enforcement believes may have information related to a possible crime

physiological response

Biological reactions to stimuli that can be felt, detected, or measured

heart rate

The number of heartbeats per minute

pulse

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries due to heart contractions

vital signs

Measurements that indicate the state of essential body functions (pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, blood pressure)

respiratory rate

The number of breaths taken per minute

polygraph test

Also known as a lie detector test, it measures physiological responses to determine truthfulness

experiment

A research study conducted to understand an observed phenomenon

hypothesis

A prediction of the anticipated result of an experiment

control group

The group that does not receive the independent variable; used for comparison

independent variable

The variable the researcher manipulates or changes with each trial

dependent variable

The part of the experiment that changes based on the independent variable- the result the researcher is wondering about

experimental design

A process used to plan experiments to answer scientific questions

iterative process

Repeating a series of steps until a desired result is achieved

Locard's Exchange Principle

Every contact leaves a trace. When you touch someone or something, an exchange of materials occurs

trace evidence

Tiny fragments of evidence (hair, fibers, glass) left at a crime scene

forensic technician

A person who processes crime scenes and/or works in the lab

fingerprints

Raised spiral and concentric ridge patterns on fingertips

fingerprint patterns

Arches, Loops, Whorls, Tented Arches.

minutiae

Tiny fingerprint ridge details, such as ridge endings, forks, deltas, and dots, used to match prints

skin conductivity

How the amount of sweat produced impacts the ability to conduct electricity

12-point match

at least 12-15 minutiae must match to confirm that they are identical

erythrocytes

transport oxygen throughout body (red blood cells)

leukocytes

work in immune system to fight germs, infections, and diseases (white blood cells)

thrombocytes

assists in blood clotting; stops bleeding (platelets)

thymine

a component of the nucleic acid, DNA; a pyrimidine base

helix

a 3-dimensional spiral

adenine

a component of nucleic acids found in DNA and RNA and in the energy-carrying molecule ATP; is a purine base

gene

a sequence of nucleotides that codes for a protein, resulting in a specific phenotype

hemoglobin

a protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen

cell

the smallest unit of life

presumptive testing

the initial testing that suggests a sample may be blood (based on the properties of hemoglobin)

confirmatory testing

confirm the presence of blood based on unique properties like antigens on the surface of red blood cells

guanine

a component of nucleic acids