1. Fields in Forensic Science The following are fields of forensic science that pertain to our 7 th grade Life Science class. We have studied these fields and completed activities in regards to these topics. Now let’s explore what these fields entail if you’re a forensic scientist!

2. DNA Analysis Everyone’s DNA is unique so it is easy to trace a crime to an individual if a match can be made Identical twins have similar DNA. Bodily evidence can be used to find DNA. DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid DNA is double helix made of nucleotide bases of corresponding: Adenine=Thymine Cytosine=Guanine * DNA electrophoresis is used to match a criminal’s DNA to the DNA evidence at a crime scene

3. Fingerprinting Everyone has a fingerprint that is unique to them. Identical twins do not have identical fingerprints Fingerprint patterns fall into one of three common groups: Whorl, Loop, or Arch Fingerprints can be found at crime scenes by using a powder that contrasts with the surface to pick up the print and the print is taped to a card. Fingerprints are also taken at police stations to create a database to catch repeat offenders

4. Blood Spatter Analysis This type of forensic analysis is called Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation The specialist will try to determine what the position and shape of the spatter indicate. They take measurements to determine the trajectory. Blood spatter specialists are able to determine the following from blood evidence: -Location and description of individual stains and patterns -Direction a blood droplet was traveling (by calculating angles of impact), -Area of origin (location of blow into blood source), -Type of object used in attack (edged, blunt, firearm, etc.), -Minimum number of blows, -The presence of a subject at a scene, -Positioning of the victim, perpetrator, and objects during events, and the sequence of events 3 Types of Blood Patterns 1.Passive bloodstains those stains created by the force of gravity. 2.Projected bloodstains occur when some form of energy has been transferred to a blood source. 3.Transfer/Contact bloodstains produced when an object with blood comes in contact with an object or surface that does not have blood.

5. Hair & Fiber Analysis Fibers can occur naturally as plant and animal fibers, but they can also be man-made. The root of the hair has cells that contain DNA, which can be used for DNA analyses.DNA By identifying a piece of fiber at a crime scene, you could then potentially link it to a suspect who might have matching fibers in or on the clothes they were wearing when the incident happened. People have been sent to prison on the evidence of fibers found at crime scenes.

6. Entomology: Bugs in the Crime Scene Forensic Entomology is the use of the insects, and their arthropod relatives that inhabit decomposing remains to aid legal investigations. The forensic entomologist can help estimate time of death by looking at which insects are present on a corpse and where they are in their life cycle.time of death Entomology can also shed light on the nature of injuries, whether a corpse has been moved, and whether drugs were involved in a death.

7. Odontology identification of bite marks on the victims of attack comparison of bite marks with the teeth of a suspect and presentation of this evidence in court as an expert witness identification of bite marks in other substances such as wood, leather and foodstuffs identification of unknown bodies through dental records age estimations of skeletal remains Use of Bite Marks to Identify Individuals Piece of chewing gum found at crime-scene. An oblong piece of chewing gum was found at the scene of a crime, it appeared to have impressions of human teeth. Positive cast of chewing gum surface. Casts of the suspect's upper left posterior teeth. Positive replications of the impressions were generated using a dental impression material. The replications were used to compare with casts of the suspect's teeth. Corresponding morphological features were found on cast of the chewing gum surface and the suspect's teeth. This dental evidence lead to a subsequent guilty plea on the part of the suspect.

8. What have you learned?? I hope that you have finished this unit feeling that you have learned something useful and interesting about forensic science. If you could choose a field to go into in forensic science, which one would interest you most?