Here’s a forensic science A to Z challenge, including a mystery word at the end. Each letter corresponds to a forensic science term or concept:
A – Autopsy
A post-mortem examination performed to determine the cause of death.
B – Ballistics
The study of the movement, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets.
C – Chromatography
A technique for separating and analyzing mixtures, often used in toxicology and drug testing.
D – DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid; genetic material used for identification and comparison.
E – Evidence
Anything that can be used in court to prove or disprove facts related to a case.
F – Fingerprinting
The process of identifying individuals based on their unique fingerprint patterns.
G – Glass analysis
Examining glass fragments to link a suspect to a crime scene.
H – Hairs and fibers
Types of trace evidence used to link a suspect or victim to a crime scene.
I – Insect evidence
The study of insects found on a body, often used to estimate the time of death.
J – Jury
A group of people tasked with determining the verdict in a trial based on forensic evidence presented.
K – Kinetics
The study of motion, including how substances behave and move in different environments (important in forensic toxicology).
L – Locard’s Exchange Principle
The theory that perpetrators of a crime will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something, and that both can be used as forensic evidence.
M – Molecular biology
The study of the molecular structure of substances, often used in DNA analysis.
N – Nystagmus
Involuntary eye movement, often analyzed in drug impairment tests.
O – Odontology
The study of dental records and bite marks in forensic investigations.
P – Pathology
The study of disease and injury, including the cause of death in forensic medicine.
Q – Questioned document analysis
The examination of documents to determine their authenticity or detect alterations.
R – Rigor mortis
The stiffening of muscles after death, which can help estimate the time of death.
S – Serology
The study of bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, and saliva, for identification purposes.
T – Toxicology
The study of poisons and toxins, and their effects on the body, often used in post-mortem investigations.
U – Ultraviolet light
Used in forensic analysis to reveal evidence like blood stains or bodily fluids not visible to the naked eye.
V – Victimology
The study of the victim, including their background, to understand the nature of the crime.
W – Wound analysis
The examination of injuries to determine their cause, such as whether they are from a weapon or accidental.
X – X-rays
Used to detect injuries, foreign objects, or bone fractures that may not be visible externally.
Y – Y-chromosome analysis
A type of DNA testing that can be used to trace paternal lineage or identify male-specific genetic markers.
Z – Zygomatic arch
A part of the skull that can be used in forensic anthropology for facial reconstruction and identification.
Mystery Word: Trace evidence
Small, often microscopic, physical evidence that can link a suspect to a crime scene, such as hair, fibers, or glass.
