Hair Analysis

Forensic hair analysis involves using a light microscope to analyze the hair for various factors to determine the origin of that hair.  Is it a human hair or animal?  Is it a male or female hair?  Can we determine the individual race?  What about the age?  To get an answer to these questions and to learn what to look for in a hair sample, visit this site.  Because examining a hair requires a microscope, be sure you understand how to use a microscope and that you can name all its parts.  For practice using a virtual microscope, go to this University of Delaware site and click on “The Virtual Scope”.

Tags: Forensics by docfleetwood
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Handwriting Analysis

How does one analyze handwriting samples to check for forgeries? Complete the following to learn all about Questioned Document Analysis.

  1. Go to this site to read about the theory behind handwriting analysis and to run a cool mini-experiment to demonstrate the ‘programmed’ nature of our own handwriting.
  2. Go to this site to read more on handwriting and forgeries.  Be sure to click on the links entitled, “describing specific features of handwriting” and “comparing handwriting”.
  3. For an insane amount of knowledge and information on handwriting comparison you can visit this site and read through the modules.  You do not have to know all of the information in these modules for this class but I include this link in case you are interested in further study.
  4. Finally, you can go to this site to participate in a handwriting verification test.  Or you can simply go there to look at a number of samples and test yourself to see if you can determine whether items were written by the same individual or different individuals.

Tags: Forensics by docfleetwood
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Blood Typing

To better understand how to determine a person’s blood type and how you could use that information, complete the following:

  1. Go to this site to see how to test someone’s blood.  Be certain you understand the difference between antigens and antibodies!
  2. Then go to this site to practice reading a blood test and see if you’ve got skills!
  3. Then go to this site and read through the tutorials.  Then complete the Blood Types Problem Set.

Tags: Forensics by docfleetwood
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