AT2 - Terms

Forensic Science

Forensic Science

Application of a broad spectrum of sciences to collect evidence and aid in legal context

Subjective evidence

Depends on perception of human reporting evidence, open to dispute

Objective evidence

Can be analysed, measured, quantified, independent of person doing test, anyone repeating test would get same result.

Forensic Odontologist

Forensic dentistry specialist, uses dental records to identify human remains, criminal investigations

Forensic Pathologist

Conducts autopsies to determine cause of death, analyses evidence, tissue samples, medical records

Forensic Biologist:

Analyze DNA, bodily fluids, to determine identity and link to crime scene

Forensic Psychologist

Evaluate mental competency, motivational functions of a criminal

Forensic Anthropologist

Analyse skeletal remains in legal context to identify evidence

Forensic Entomologist

Analyze insect activity on corpses to estimate time of death and identify any evidence.

Forensic Entomology

Use of insects and other arthropods that inhabit decompsing materials to aid in criminal investigation

Species succession

Change over time in an area, where one species community replaces another, follows predictable sequence forensic scientists use

Post Mortem Interval

The time between cause of death till examination

Alleles

alternative forms or versions of genes

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a specific gene

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene

Phenotypes

Characteristics or traits observed or measured in organism, resulting from the interaction of genes and the environment

Genotypes

Genetic makeup of an organism, determined by the combination of alleles

Agglutinogens

Proteins on the surface of red blood cells that determine blood type can agglutinate or clump when exposed to incompatible blood types

Agglutinins

Antibodies that cause clumping of cells or particles, in response to foreign substances or incompatible blood types

Origin

Location from where the blood spatter came from

Angle of impact

Angle at which a blood droplet strikes a surface

Parent drop

Droplet from which satellites and spines originate

Satellite spatters

Drops of blood that break of from the parent spatter

Spines

Pointed edges of a stain that radiate out from the spatter

Plastic prints

Prints on soft surface, 3d prints

Patent prints

Formed from liquid substances, wide variety, smooth non-porous, rough porous

Latent prints

Invisible prints, natural oils on variety of surfaces

Patent collection

Photographed with forensic scale for measurement

Latent collection

Dusting with fingerprint powder, photographed and lifted with adhesive tape for preservation, alternate light source

Cuticle

Outer coating of overlapping scales

Cortex

Protein rich structure around medulla, contains pigment and DNA

Medulla

Central core, may be absent