Hair analysis forensic

Comparison microscope

a compound microscope that allows the side-by-side comparison of samples, such as hair or fibers

Cortex

The region of hair located outside the medulla that contains granules of pigment

Cuticle

The tough outer covering of a hair that is composed of overlapping scales

Hair follicle

The actively growing base of a hair that contains DNA and living cells

Gas chromatography 

A method of separating chemicals to establish their quantities

Hair shaft

Part of the hair above the follicle contains mitochondrial DNA

Isotopes

Different forms of an element that differ in their atomic mass and number of neutrons 

Irms

A technology that allows examiners to analyze ratios of isotopes each of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur 

Isotope signature

Or isotopic finger print is a ratio of different isotopes found in an individual

Medulla 

The central core of hair

Keratin

A type of fibrous protein that makes up the majority of the cortex of a hair

NAA

A process that relies on determining the concentrations of elements in materials by creating radioactive decay paths that can be identified and used to date archaeological specimens, gunshot residue, arsenic in hair, and geographic locations

Melanin granules

Particles of pigment found in the cortex of a hair

mtDNA

Genetic material in the mitochondria of the cytoplasm of a cell only inherited from the mother

Medullary index

The ratio of the medulla to the width of the hair