identification process
Forensic scientists are able to determine the race, gender, and location on the body of a hair recovered on a crime scene.
RACEWhen found, hairs usually fit under the race categories of Caucasoid (European ancestry), Mongoloid (Asian ancestry), and Negroid (African ancestry)
EUROPEAN (CAUCASOID)
European origin hairs are normally fine to medium coarseness, straight or wavy in appearance, and colors range from blonde to brown to black.
ASIAN (MONGOLOID)
Asian origin hairs are normally coarse, straight, with a wider diameter than hairs of the Caucasoid and Negroid hairs. The outer layer of the hair is usually much thicker than that of the other racial groups.
AFRICAN (NEGROID)
African origin hairs are usually curly with a flattened cross section, and appear to be curly, wavy, or coiled. Buckling, or twisting of the hair shaft, can be apparent and the hair shaft can split along the length.Sources Used:
Determining the sex of individual from a hair can be difficult, but normally, longer, more treated hair are more frequently from females. Also, if a hair is forcefully removed, the gender of the individual’s hair can be determined by the tissue on the hair, but this is uncommon.
LOCATION ON THE BODY
Head hairs are normally the longest hair on the body, and are the most altered due to scissors and razors, hair dyes, rinses, and other chemicals.
Hairs from the legs and arms are called limb hairs. These hairs are shorter in length, arc-like in shape, and often tapered at the ends.
Facial hairs are more commonly called beard hairs or mustache hairs. These hairs are coarse in appearance, usually have razor cut tips, and shouldering in the hair are observed under magnification.
Deedrick, Douglas W. Hairs, Fibers, Crime, and Evidence. July 2000. Forensic Science Communcations. 24 Apr. 2005
RACEWhen found, hairs usually fit under the race categories of Caucasoid (European ancestry), Mongoloid (Asian ancestry), and Negroid (African ancestry)
EUROPEAN (CAUCASOID)
European origin hairs are normally fine to medium coarseness, straight or wavy in appearance, and colors range from blonde to brown to black.
ASIAN (MONGOLOID)
Asian origin hairs are normally coarse, straight, with a wider diameter than hairs of the Caucasoid and Negroid hairs. The outer layer of the hair is usually much thicker than that of the other racial groups.
AFRICAN (NEGROID)
African origin hairs are usually curly with a flattened cross section, and appear to be curly, wavy, or coiled. Buckling, or twisting of the hair shaft, can be apparent and the hair shaft can split along the length.Sources Used:
Determining the sex of individual from a hair can be difficult, but normally, longer, more treated hair are more frequently from females. Also, if a hair is forcefully removed, the gender of the individual’s hair can be determined by the tissue on the hair, but this is uncommon.
LOCATION ON THE BODY
Head hairs are normally the longest hair on the body, and are the most altered due to scissors and razors, hair dyes, rinses, and other chemicals.
Hairs from the legs and arms are called limb hairs. These hairs are shorter in length, arc-like in shape, and often tapered at the ends.
Facial hairs are more commonly called beard hairs or mustache hairs. These hairs are coarse in appearance, usually have razor cut tips, and shouldering in the hair are observed under magnification.
Deedrick, Douglas W. Hairs, Fibers, Crime, and Evidence. July 2000. Forensic Science Communcations. 24 Apr. 2005
Using the anonymous samples provided you will learn the art of recording, documenting and identifying hair and fibre samples. You will need to accurately measure and describe the sample, as well as make a prediction on what you believe the source was, and why. This will then be compared to the actual source of the sample to see how accurate your predictions were.
MATERIALS
Hair and fibre samples
Gloves
Ruler
Magnifying Glass
Table to record your results
Remember – you must support your predictions with evidence!
YOU WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SPREAD SHEET PAPER COPY RECORDING FORM
MATERIALS
Hair and fibre samples
Gloves
Ruler
Magnifying Glass
Table to record your results
Remember – you must support your predictions with evidence!
YOU WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SPREAD SHEET PAPER COPY RECORDING FORM