1. Hair Microscopy A Novel

2. What is hair anyway?  Primarily composed of the protein keratin  Can be defined as slender outgrowths of the skin of mammals  Hairs can be transferred during physical contact, so their presence can associate a suspect to a victim or a suspect/victim to a crime scene.

3. Hair Characteristics  Macroscopic  Length  Color  Shape (curly vs. straight, etc.)  Microscopic  Root appearance  Pigment distribution  Shape

4. Varieties of Hair on a Mammal  Humans  Head  Pubic  Arms/Legs  Beasts  Coarse,outter guard hairs  Fine fur  Tactile hairs (whiskers)  Tail/Mane hairs

5. Hair Life Cycle  Anagen  Growth stage  At any time, 80-90% of hair is in anagen on a human head  Catagen  Tranistion stage from anagen to telogen  Telogen  Dormant, resting phase  Hairs in this phase fall out readily with a comb or light contact  10-18% of hair on a head is in telogen

6. Naturally Shed Hair  Hair dislodged by combing or other light contact  Root is undamaged  Club shaped

7. Ouch! Forcibly Removed Hair  Hair is bent and/or broken  Root shows damage and stretching (top)  May have scalp tissue still attatched (bottom)

8. Animal Hair!  Animal hair is very useful for placing a suspect/victim in a location, as they are easily transferred by clothing  Cat or dog hairs have been found on the adhesive portions of ransom notes!  Secondary transfers also occur  Animal hairs can used to identify species or breeds, but not individuals

9. Razor Cut hair

10. Split Hair

11. Hair with cut tip

12. Buckling

13. Burnt Hair

14. Race - Caucasoid

15. Race - Negroid

16. Race - Mongoloid