Forensic Serology and Crime Scene Investigation

Vocabulary flashcards covering forensic serology, blood typing, blood splatter analysis, crime scene search methods, experimental design steps, and persons of interest.

Antigens

Specific labels located on red blood cells.

Antibodies

Defensive agents (functioning like security guards) that attack foreign labels on red blood cells.

Anti-A

An antibody that attacks red blood cells possessing Antigen A.

Anti-B

An antibody that attacks red blood cells possessing Antigen B.

Type A Blood

Blood characterized by having A antigens on red blood cells and Anti-B antibodies.

Type B Blood

Blood characterized by having B antigens on red blood cells and Anti-A antibodies.

Type AB Blood

Blood containing both A and B antigens, and having no antibodies.

Type O Blood

Blood containing no antigens, and having both Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies.

Kaste-Meyer Test

A presumptive blood test that turns bright pink if positive ($+$).

Agglutination

The clumping reaction that occurs when antibodies in testing liquid locate their target antigens on red blood cells.

Blood Splatter Analysis

An analysis technique where droplet diameter depends on height, allowing investigators to work backwards from splatter data and blood scene patterns to determine drop height.

Link Method

A crime scene search method that is not easily definable and has no set pattern, used to establish logical connections between crime scene activity and places where additional evidence might be located.

Crime Scene Search Methods

Five search methods used alongside the link method: Zone method, Spiral method, Line method, Wheel method, and Grid method.

Point of Origin

Any designated reference point in a crime scene that assists in taking measurements and allows anyone to replicate the crime scene.

Three Essential Crime Scene Elements

The three most important items required in all crime scenes: Legend, Evidence, and Point of origin.

Eric Piedmont

A person of interest identified as Anna's boyfriend.

Taylor Diaz

A person of interest identified as Anna's classmate and friend.

Dr. Elsie Opal

A person of interest identified as Anna's professor.

Dominique Hall

A person of interest identified as Anna's classmate and rival.

Sam Greene

A person of interest identified as Anna's soccer teammate.

Heart Rate

A measure of cardiac activity, recorded in beats per minute ($\text{bpm}$).

Respiration Rate

The metric measuring how many breaths an individual takes.

Six Steps of Experimental Design

1. Identify the problem/question; 2. Predict solution / an answer for problem/question; 3. Design experiment to test hypothesis; 4. Carry out the experiment; 5. Analyze data & observations; 6. State the conclusion.