Forensic Science

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Table of Contents

  1. Forensic Science
  2. Forensic Methods, Examples
  3. DNA Profiling
  4. Fingerprinting
  5. Problems with Forensic Methods
  6. Resources

Forensic Science

Forensic Science is the use of scientifically based methods for developing evidence relevant to a crime or civil wrong.

Forensic Methods, Examples

  • Accident / Crime Reconstruction
  • Autopsy
  • Ballistics
  • Blood Spatter Analysis
  • Bite-Mark Analysis
  • Bullet Lead Analysis
  • DNA Profiling
  • Dental Analysis
  • Digital Evidence
  • Document Analysis
  • Fingerprinting
  • Fire Debris and Explosion Analysis
  • Hair and Fiber Analysis
  • Handwriting Analysis
  • Insect Analysis
  • Paint and Coating Analysis
  • Psychological Profiling
  • Scent Analysis
  • Shoe Print Analysis
  • Skeletal Remains Analysis
  • Tire Analysis
  • Toxicology

DNA Profiling

At fixed spots on a chromosome’s DNA are genes, providing the blueprint for synthesizing proteins. But at other fixed spots are strange repeating sequences of meaningless DNA letters that differ from person to person. DNA Profiling is based on these repeating sequences.

View DNA Profiling

Fingerprinting

Fingerprint analysis uses the location, direction, and type of minutiae points to match fingerprints.

View Fingerprinting

Problems with Forensic Methods

  • A method may be unreliable or not proven reliable
  • A method may be improperly applied or affected by bias
  • Results may be misrepresented in court

View Problems with Forensic Methods

Resources