Hair, Fibers and Paint

							Hair Chapter 10 in Saferstein’s Forensic Science, first edition

   1. It is impossible to individualize a human hair to a single head by its morphology,
      or form. Under what conditions can hair provide strong evidence for placing an
      individual at a crime scene?
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________

   2. Define the following terms and draw an illustration and label each feature:
   Follicle- ___________________________________________________

   Shaft- ___________________________________________________


   Cuticle- ___________________________________________________

   Cortex- ___________________________________________________


   Medulla- ___________________________________________________
         a.




   3. What 2 features make hair a good subject for establishing individual identity?
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________

   4. How is the scale pattern of the cuticle useful to forensic scientists?
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   5. What is the forensic importance of the cortex?
      _______________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________

   6. What is the medullary index? Relate to humans and then to animals.
Hair_1st Hair Fiber Paint Worksheet 1
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  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________

  7. Does the medulla vary among individuals? _ ______________________
  8. (b) Does it vary for a individual?_______________________________
  9. What are the 4 classifications of medullae?
  a. ____________

  b. _____________

  c. ____________

  d. ___________________


  Which classification of medullae do humans have? What is the exception to this?
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________


  10. Which classification of medullae do animals have?
  _________________________

  11. What is interesting about the shape of the medullae? Relate to humans and
      animals.
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________

  12. Name and define the three phases of hair growth.
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________________

   13. Explain the “follicular tag” and its importance.
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
Hair_1st Hair Fiber Paint Worksheet 2
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   14. What tool does the forensic examiner of hair use to make a comparison?
   ____________________________________________________

   When comparing hair, the criminalist is particularly interested in matching
   __________, ________ &___________.
   15. Other important features are the presence or absence of ________ and the
       distribution , shape, and color intensity of the ________ ________ in the
       cortex.
   16. If hair evidence was dyed which part of the hair would this be evident?
       _________________

   17. How fast does hair grow?? ___________________
   18. Can the body area from which a hair originated be determined? If so, how.
       Explain fully.
       _______________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________
       _________
   19. Can the racial origin of hair be determined? ? If so, how. Explain fully.
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________

   20. Can the age and sex of an individual be determined from a hair sample? ? If so,
       how. Explain fully.
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   21. Is it possible to determine whether hair was forcibly removed from the body? ?
       If so, how. Explain fully.
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   22. Are efforts being made to individualize human hair? ? If so, how. Explain fully.
       _______________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________
       _________
   23. Can DNA individualize human hair? ? If so, how. Explain fully.
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________




Hair_1st Hair Fiber Paint Worksheet 3
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Hair_1st Hair Fiber Paint Worksheet 4
Foxworth-millcreek                 bergh