PBS EOC Study Guide 2022 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering forensic science, biology, and medical concepts based on the 2022 PBS EOC study guide.

Legend (Crime Scene Sketch)

The part of a crime scene sketch that includes the Date, Time, Temp, and Location.

Scale (Crime Scene Sketch)

A component of a crime scene sketch consisting of a listing of all the evidence.

Line (Strip) Method

A search pattern used on large, outdoor crime scenes where searchers are arranged at regular arm’s length intervals and proceed along straight lines.

Grid Method

A search pattern for large, outdoor crime scenes where searchers follow a line pattern and then realign on a perpendicular line pattern to search again.

Zone Method

A search pattern used on crime scenes comprised of readily definable zones, such as houses or buildings, where small teams are assigned to search specific zones.

Spiral Method (Inward or Outward)

A search pattern used on crime scenes with no physical barriers, such as open water, beginning either at a critical point (outward) or the outer-edge (inward).

Wheel or Ray Method

A search pattern used on small, circular crime scenes where investigators start from a critical point and travel outward along straight lines.

Skin Conductivity

A physiological response measured during a polygraph where increased sweating increases conductivity, indicating potential lying.

Baseline

A set of measurements taken during a polygraph to see what an individual's heart rate and respiration are like when telling the truth to serve as a comparison.

Independent Variable

The factor in an experiment that the researcher is controlling and making different between each group, such as the height blood is dropped from.

Dependent Variable

The factor that changes as a result of changing the independent variable, such as the size of a blood spatter.

Control Group

A group that allows you to have a standard to compare results to, such as a group of individuals drinking water with no nitrates.

Fingerprint Minutiae

Small details in a fingerprint, like ridge endings and forks, that distinguish fingerprints from one another.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells that contains hemoglobin to help transport oxygen.

Thrombocytes

Platelets that help with blood clotting.

Plasma

The liquid portion of blood that has many ions, sugars, and other substances dissolved in it.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that help the body fight infections.

Transfer Spatter

Blood spatter that shows a person crawled or was dragged while bleeding.

Passive Spatter

A circular blood stain produced when a droplet is dropped directly from above and strikes a horizontal surface at $90^{\circ}$.

Presumptive Tests

Initial testing that suggests a sample may be blood based on the properties of hemoglobin, such as the Kastle-Meyer test.

Confirmatory Tests

Tests like the ABO blood test that confirm the presence of blood at a crime scene.

Antigens

Proteins or other particles on red blood cells (such as A or B) that cause an immune response.

Antibodies

Proteins in the blood that react against foreign antigens; for example, Type A blood has B antibodies.

Nucleotide

A building block of DNA consisting of a Phosphate group, Deoxyribose sugar, and a Nitrogen base.

Gene

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein.

Chromosome

A threadlike structure of DNA found in the nucleus that carries genetic information in the form of genes; humans have $46$.

Eukaryotic Cell

A cell that has a well-defined nucleus and is larger in size.

Restriction Enzymes

Proteins that cut DNA at specific base sequences, such as Hae III which cuts at $GG/CC$.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A process that makes thousands of copies of a DNA sample.

Gel Electrophoresis

A process that separates DNA fragments based upon their size, moving fragments toward the positive pole.

Cause of Death

The specific injury, trauma, or disease that directly caused the victim's death, such as a Gun Shot.

Mechanism of Death

What happens physiologically inside the body to result in death, such as extreme blood loss.

Manner of Death

The legal categorization of death, including Natural, Homicide, Suicide, and Accident.

Livor Mortis

The pooling of the body following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin, also known as lividity.

Rigor Mortis

The stiffening of joints and muscles after death.

Algor Mortis

The change in body temperature after death.

Systolic Pressure

The maximum pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting.

Diastolic Pressure

The lowest pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.

Hematocrit

The percentage of Red Blood Cells in the blood, normally between $40\text{--}50\%$.

Atherosclerosis

Plaque build-up in the arteries that causes them to narrow and increases blood pressure.

LDL

Low-density lipoprotein that moves cholesterol into the bloodstream; high values are undesirable.

HDL

High-density lipoprotein that helps move cholesterol out of the arteries and to the liver; high values are desirable.

Negative Feedback

A loop that maintains homeostasis, such as the regulation of temperature or blood sugar.

Glucagon

A hormone released by alpha cells in the pancreas when blood sugar is low, instructing the liver to convert glycogen into glucose.

HIPAA

A law that protects a patient's privacy by prohibiting the sharing of medical history or conditions without consent.

Transcription

The process occurring in the nucleus where DNA is copied into mRNA using RNA Polymerase.

Translation

The process occurring in the cytoplasm at a ribosome where mRNA is used to build a protein chain.

Substitution Mutation

A DNA mutation where one nucleotide is replaced by another, usually affecting only one amino acid.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, such as $TT$, $Tt$, or $tt$.

Phenotype

The physical appearance of an organism, such as being tall or short.

Nondisjunction

An error in meiosis where homologous chromosomes fail to separate, resulting in an incorrect number of chromosomes in sex cells.

Aseptic Technique

A process used to prevent contamination of a sample with unwanted bacteria and to protect the individual from contact with the bacteria.

Gram-Positive Bacteria

Bacteria with a large layer of peptidoglycan that appear blue or purple under a Gram stain.

Gram-Negative Bacteria

Bacteria with a thin layer of peptidoglycan that appear pinkish-red under a Gram stain.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution high in solutes that typically causes a cell to shrink.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution low in solutes that typically causes a cell to get larger as water flows in.

Triage

The process of prioritizing patients in an emergency facility based on the severity of their injuries.

Surge Capacity

The measure of how many patients a medical facility can triage, treat, and manage in addition to its normal average number of patients.

What are the three components of a nucleotide

Phosphate group, Deoxyribose sugar, Nitrogen base

Differentiate between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells:

A Eukaryotic cell has a well defined nucleus, and is larger in size

Differentiate between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells:

A prokaryotic cell does not have a nucleus and is much smaller. Bacteria are the only prokaryotes

What is number one?

Deoxyribose(sugar)

What is number 2 labeled

Nitrogenbase

what is number 3 labeled

Nucleotide

What is number 4 labeled

Base pair

What is number 5

Hydrogen bond

What is number 6

Phosphate group

Why is having too much cholesterol in the body bad?

Too much cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, causing arteries to narrow, which can lead to high blood pressure and ruptured arteries in the heart or stroke.

What is LDL’s function? Does a person want to have low or high LDL values?

LDL moves cholesterol into the bloodstream, and a person wants low LDL levels.

What is HDL’s function? Does a person want to have low or high HDL values?

HDL helps move cholesterol out of the arteries and to the liver; a person wants high HDL levels.

What are the effects of saturated fats on HDL and LDL?

Saturated fats increase LDL levels and could lower HDL levels.

What are the effects of unsaturated fats on HDL and LDL?

Unsaturated fats generally increase HDL levels, but can also increase LDL levels.

What can be done to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and prevent heart disease?

Monitor intake of fried foods or other foods high in saturated fats.

What is atherosclerosis? How can it affect blood pressure?

Atherosclerosis is plaque build-up in the arteries that increases blood pressure.

What is the relationship between the energy in food, glucose, and ATP?

Food is broken down in the digestive tract and converted into glucose in the blood, which is then converted into ATP during cellular respiration.

What is positive feedback? Provide an example.

A positive feedback loop amplifies a response, such as blood clotting or contractions during childbirth.

What is negative feedback? Provide an example.

A negative feedback loop maintains homeostasis, such as regulating temperature or blood sugar levels.

After eating a meal, explain how the body regulates blood sugar using these words: glucose, insulin, beta cell, pancreas, insulin receptor (cell receptor), glucose transporter, cell, blood.

When we eat carbs, blood glucose levels increase. The pancreas senses this and the beta cells release insulin. Insulin enters the bloodstream and attaches to insulin receptors on cell membranes, opening glucose transporters that allow glucose into the cell, lowering blood glucose levels.

Why do we need glucose in our cells?

Glucose is a simple sugar that serves as our main energy source for making ATP.

If you haven't eaten in 3 hours, explain how the body regulates blood sugar using these words: glucose, glucagon, glycogen, liver, pancreas, alpha cells, blood.

When blood sugar levels drop, the pancreas recognizes this and the alpha cells release glucagon into the bloodstream. Glucagon travels to the liver and instructs it to convert glycogen into glucose, increasing the amount of glucose in the body.

What do hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia mean?

Hyperglycemia refers to high blood sugar, while hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar.

What is going on in the body when someone has Type 1 diabetes?

In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, causing cells to be unable to take in glucose effectively, resulting in high glucose levels and potentially high blood pressure that affects kidneys and other body systems.

What is going on in the body when someone has Type 2 diabetes?

In Type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin, but the insulin receptors do not recognize it anymore, preventing the body from lowering blood sugar levels.

What is HIPAA, what kinds of information are protected and when can information be shared?

HIPAA is a law that protects a patient's privacy, prohibiting the sharing of medical conditions or history without consent from anyone not involved with the patient, and disallowing discussions in overheard areas.

Differentiate between a Chronic and an Acute disease/condition:

A chronic condition is one that persists long-term, such as asthma, while an acute condition is something that happens suddenly, like a broken bone.

What is the purpose of Mitosis? What happens to Chromosomes during this process?

Mitosis is the process eukaryotic cells undergo to divide into two identical daughter cells, where chromosomes replicate and one copy goes to each new cell.

What makes cancer cells different from normal cells?

Cancer cells have lost the ability to control cell division, leading to uncontrolled growth and the formation of tumors, and if they travel to other parts of the body, they are considered malignant.

What are the basic categories of protein functions?

Movement, providing defense, building structures, driving cellular reactions, transporting materials, coordinating cell activities.

Explain how substitution mutations form.

Substitution: One nucleotide is replaced by another, usually only affecting one amino acid in the protein.

Explain how insertion mutations form.

Insertion: A nucleotide is inserted into the gene.

Explain how deletion mutations form.

Deletion: A nucleotide is deleted from the gene.

Which of these mutations has a bigger impact on the protein formed? Which causes changes in the reading frame of the mRNA?

Insertion and deletion mutations have a larger effect on the protein produced because they shift the reading frame and could change every amino acid after the insertion or deletion.

Differentiate between alleles & genes:

Genes are segments of DNA that code for a protein, while alleles are different forms of a gene.

Differentiate between dominant traits & recessive traits:

If you have 1 copy of a dominant trait, you will express the trait. The only way you express a recessive trait is if both copies are recessive.

Differentiate between heterozygous & homozygous:

Heterozygous means you have both a dominant and recessive allele, while homozygous means both copies are identical.

Differentiate between genotype & phenotype:

The genotype is the genetic makeup (TT, Tt, or tt), while the phenotype is the physical appearance (tall or short).

Why are pedigrees useful? What can a pedigree tell you?

Pedigrees are useful for tracing the inheritance of traits and determining whether they are dominant or recessive.