Crime Lab Investigation

"Forensic" is derived from the Latin forensus, meaning "of the forum." In ancient Rome, the forum was where governmental debates were held, but it was also where trials were held -- it was the courthouse. So forensic science has come to mean the application of the natural and physical science to the resolution of matters within a legal context. - John Thornton

Use the indicated resources to answer the following questions.

• Shoeprint and Footprint Comparisons
  1. What is the difference between a print and an impression?
  2. How are the two collected for evidence?
• Basics of DNA Fingerprinting
• An Interview With a DNA Forensics Authority
  1. What is DNA?
  2. What is DNA fingerprinting?
  3. Can DNA fingerprinting be 100% assured? Why or why not?
• DNA Fingerprinting
• DNA Fingerprinting 2
  1. Why is DNA profiling such good evidence?
• Try your hand at fingerprint analysis
• DNA on the Witness Stand
  1. What are the four major types of fingerprints? How can they each be distinguished?

Comments:jtucker@trms.k12.ga.net

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Copyright 1996, Jill Tucker. These pages may be copied and used by other teachers, by school districts and by non-profit institutions but may not be redistributed, republished or sold without permission.

Revised JAN 7, 1998