What two features make hair a good subject for establishing individual identity? To which layer of the hair shaft are much of these features attributed?
> HV1 and HV2 are: A) Restriction enzymes. B) STR types. C) Types of viruses. D) Regions of mtDNA. 22) Y-STR markers are useful when multiple males are involved in a sexual assault. If three men are involved in such an attack the investigators would ex
> 31) An objective lens with a numerical aperture of 1.50 can separate details at half the distance of a lens with a numerical aperture of: A) 0.65. B) 3.00. C) 30.00. D) 0.75. 32) An object with the letter “L” is viewed under low power of a compound micr
> The PCR technique requires the use of a thermal cycler to: A) Synthesize protein. B) Copy DNA. C) Make probes radioactive. D) Hydrolyze polymerase. 12) In the PCR process, the first step is to heat the DNA strands. This is to permit the: A) DNA to c
> The technology of DNA typing had its beginnings in 1985 with the work of: A) Henry Lee. B) Francis Crick. C) James Watson. D) Alec Jeffreys. 2) DNA is a(n): A) Protein. B) Starch. C) Polymer. D) Enzyme. 3) The molecular structure of DNA was dedu
> During the production of monoclonal antibodies, which step is NOT followed? A) Inject an animal with the antigen of interest. B) Remove the animal’s spleen cells. C) Fuse the spleen cells to malignant blood cells. D) All of the above are followed. 32) A
> What is true about monoclonal antibodies? A) They are produced utilizing rapidly multiplying blood-cancer cells. B) They are produced by injecting a mouse with an antigen. C) They are expected to be medicine’s version of the “magic bullet.” D) All of
> Luminol can be used at crime scenes to: A) Detect traces of blood without compromising potential DNA typing. B) Make hair evidence fluoresce. C) Light up the crime scene with a high degree of illumination. D) Locate latent prints that otherwise would b
> Which blood components are directly pertinent to the forensic aspects of blood identification? A) Platelets B) Blood serum C) Red blood cells D) Both B and C 2) In routine blood banking, which antigen(s) must be determined in testing for compatibil
> Which coating provides resistance to corrosion? A) Electrocoat primer B) Primer surface C) Basecoat D) Clearcoat 22) Which coat represents the “eye appeal”? A) Electrocoat primer B) Primer surface C) Basecoat D) Clearcoat 23) Which property imparts
> The atoms of hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium all have the same number of protons, but differ in the number of neutrons they possess. These substances are: A) Elements. B) Compounds. C) Molecules. D) Isotopes. 12) In neutron activation analysis, an elem
> What type of evidence would be expected to have trace elements? A) Glass and metal objects B) Paint and bullet fragments C) Soil and gun primer particles D) All of the above 2) In a simple emission spectrograph, excitation of the specimen under inve
> A drug recognition expert (DRE) can: A) Identify street drugs by their appearance. B) Help a drug user acknowledge his/her habit and suggest ways to become drug-free. C) Determine whether a person has taken one or more drugs. D) Advise the toxicologis
> When the SEM’s primary electron beam bombards a specimen, it causes the emission of: A) Electrons from elements of the upper layer of the specimen. B) X-rays from the target. C) Gamma rays from the target. D) Both A and B 22) A microscope uses a comb
> The elimination or “burn off” rate of alcohol averages ________ percent w/v per hour. A) 0.10 B) 0.15 C) 0.015 D) None of the above 32) Which of the following drugs is NOT found in blood or urine? A) Morphine B) Heroin C) Amphetamine D) Methadone 33) C
> Carbon monoxide is toxic because it: A) Activates killer white blood cells. B) Destroys red blood cells. C) Causes platelets to clump. D) Combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin. 22) The presence of high levels of carbon monoxide in the bloo
> The federal government set the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for commercial truck and bus drivers at: A) 0.08%. B) 0.02%. C) 0.05%. D) 0.04%. 12) After a blood sample is collected for alcohol testing, a(n) ________ is added to stop t
> From each of the following descriptions of bullet holes, estimate the distance from the shooter to the target. a. A few widely scattered gunpowder particles with no soot around the entrance hole b. A dark ring around the bullet hole, but no soot or gunpo
> Describe the best process to analyze and attempt to identify the chemical components of fiber and paint evidence.
> 1) Indicate what type of microscope (compound, comparison, stereoscopic, or polarizing light) should be used to analyze each of the following items of evidence: a. fired bullets b. a synthetic fiber c. soil minerals d. paint chips e. a shed head hair
> In Western countries, what is/are the most heavily abused drug(s)? A) Tranquilizers B) Alcohol C) Barbiturates D) Amphetamines 2) Which is NOT a factor in determining the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream? A) The alcoholic content
> When should an examiner do a physical extraction versus a logical extraction, or both?
> If there is a GPS capability on a smartphone, how might the investigator use it in the investigation?
> List four places where a forensic computer examiner might look to determine what websites a computer user has visited recently. What kind of leads could this information provide to the investigator?
> An investigator would like to take a forensic “image” of a suspect’s HDD. What is the primary goal in obtaining data from a HDD? What tools can the investigator use to achieve this goal?
> A small piece of paper from a hotel notepad is found in the pocket of a potential “hit man” as he attempted to kill his “mark.” The paper shows writing in various pen colors, some of which is obliterated and some of which was erased. The top corner of th
> A threatening letter is received by a company CEO via fax. What characteristics can be examined to gain information about the sending machine, the sending individual, and fraudulent source information?
> A warranted search of a victim’s apartment yields three pages of exemplar handwriting samples written on ruled notebook paper with blue ballpoint pen. The investigators would like to compare the handwriting on these exemplars to a potential suicide note
> Criminalist Matt Hughes arrives at the scene of an explosion. He first carries out a search of the periphery of the crime scene, questions several witnesses, and then locates the crater caused by the blast. After finding the crater, he uses a sifter to s
> The following substances were found at the scenes of explosions. Indicate for each group of items if low, high, or a combination of explosives were used. If high explosives were used, indicate whether the components can be identified as primary or second
> At a fire scene, what characteristics should an investigator look for to identify the fire’s point of origin? What circumstances may affect these characteristics?
> Which of the following analytical technique is considered to be a specific test in a drug identification scheme? A) Color test B) Microcrystalline test C) Thin-layer chromatography D) Infrared spectrophotometry 62) Chromatography is NOT used to: A) Aid
> A large container of gasoline is recovered from the walk-in freezer at a restaurant owned by an arson suspect. The gasoline temperature is found to be -10 degrees Fahrenheit. The suspect claims this gasoline would be too cold to have been used as an acce
> List the differences between nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of mitochondrial DNA analysis in forensic investigations?
> What are the advantages of using PCR in the analysis of DNA for forensic investigation?
> What three questions must the criminalist answer when examining dried blood? Which tests or analysis tools can be used to answer each question?
> Three blood samples are exposed to the antiserums shown below with the given reactions. Based on these results, determine the ABO/Rh blood type of each sample.
> Why must paint collected from a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident be taken from the area of the car suspected of being in contact with the victim?
> Using knowledge about the operation of ICP emission spectrophotometry, determine whether it could or could not be utilized for the following analyses: a. analysis of metals in wine to determine area of origin b. detection of arsenic in a food sample c. c
> A toxicologist is asked to draw conclusions about a subject’s drug-induced behavior. What factors aside from blood concentration levels can have an effect on the toxicologist’s findings?
> What steps should be employed by a toxicologist in an analytical scheme to look for barbituates in a urine sample? What chemicals or instrumentation should be used at each step?
> Following field sobriety testing, a driver is transported to the police station for an official breath alcohol test. Explain what safeguards and instrumental parameters must be in place before, during, and after the breath test to ensure its accuracy.
> Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) Hashish is a concentrated preparation of marijuana. B) The active ingredient of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol. C) Prior to 1970 marijuana was classified as a narcotic drug. D) Marijuana is synthesized fr
> List and describe the functions of the three types of blood vessels in the circulatory system and the roles they play in metabolism of alcohol.
> Multiple chemical components of a mixture are separated via thin-layer chromatography using silica gel as the stationary phase and ethanol and acetic acid as the mobile phase. What does the distance travelled by each component tell the analyst about thei
> The forensic chemist received a white powder that must be identified. What are the preferred analytical methods for identification of the powder’s organic components?
> An unknown white powder was located at a crime scene. Describe an analytical scheme, in proper order, to identify the drug or drugs which may be present in the powder. For each step, note whether it is a screening or confirmatory test and why it should b
> A newly synthesized drug, called MET, is identified by the DEA. What drug schedule should this drug be classified under, given the following established characteristics? • High potential for abuse • A potential medical use requiring severe restrictions
> Many factors affect the intensity of drug dependence in any given individual. For each item of information about a drug abuser’s life given below, indicate whether the factor would likely yield a high (+) or low (–) level of dependence. a. daily, schedu
> During a microscopic comparison of two hairs, a trace analyst compares the medullae of the hairs to determine species of origin and, if possible, human origin of the hairs. What is the difference between the medullae of human and animal hairs? Name one e
> Using the floatation method, three pieces of soda-lime glass are placed in three separate cylinders containing a solution with a density of 1.67 g/mL. Glass fragment (A) floats, glass fragment (B) is suspended in the middle of the solution, and glass fra
> At the scene of a vehicle vandalism, fragments of soda-lime glass, tempered glass, and laminated glass are found inside the vehicle. From where could these types of glass originated?
> Which absorption spectrum is equivalent to a “fingerprint” of a substance and can be used for identification purposes? A) Visible B) IR C) UV D) X-ray 42) Gas chromatography suffers a big drawback in that it does not produce specific identification.
> For each of the impressions listed below, determine which characteristics are class characteristics and which are individual characteristics. a. Screwdriver pry mark: 0.5 inch wide, filings of stainless steel imbedded in mark, rounded edges, center half-
> Discuss five factors that influence the amount of gunpowder residue deposited on a target.
> Discuss some advantages and disadvantages of using a stereoscopic microscope. What is an example of evidence you may examine using a stereoscopic microscope?
> Imagine you are placing a slide on a compound microscope for examination. Describe each part of the microscope you would handle and adjust to complete this process.
> How can a scanning electron microscope be used to identify the elements present in a specimen?
> What happens to a light beam that passes through a polarizing crystal? What happens when plane-polarized light passes through a second polarizing crystal set perpendicular to the first crystal?
> Briefly describe how a comparison microscope works and what it is used for.
> Describe the process of using each generation of mobile device to create a timeline and correlate events on the device.
> Even though mobile devices are really small computers with computer-like OSs, they usually cannot be examined using typical computer forensic tools. Elaborate on some of the differences between examining a 4G smartphone and a computer.
> Describe the two different types of chain of evidence and how they can be used in the investigative process.
> The Controlled Substance Act established five schedules of classification for substances based on the drugs: A) Medical value. B) Potential for physical dependence. C) Potential for psychological dependence. D) All of the above 32) The Marquis reagen
> What value can be gleaned from each generation of mobile device (1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G)? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
> List four mobile services that are offered on today’s mobile devices and explain their potential evidentiary value.
> What does IP stand for in IP address? What function can an IP address serve in a forensic investigation?
> What are the three areas in which an investigator can find visible data on a computer?
> What type of memory stores software programs and instructions while the computer is turned on? What special considerations must be taken to preserve this type of memory on a computer at a crime scene?
> What is hacking? Who most commonly engages in hacking, and for what purpose?
> What is the purpose of an Internet cache?
> What is fragmentation? What effect does fragmentation have on a hard disk drive (HDD)?
> Name two situations in which an investigator would not immediately unplug a computer at an electronic crime scene.
> What aspects of a computer should be photographed close-up at an electronic crime scene?
> Barbiturates act to: A) Produce sleep. B) Create a feeling of well-being. C) Promote relaxation. D) All of the above 22) Which is true of the use of mild tranquilizers? A) They impair high-thinking faculties. B) They induce sleep. C) They do not p
> List five objects that may be referred to as questioned documents if they were to be discovered at a crime scene. What makes a document a questioned document?
> Name five important characteristics of a printer, photocopier, or fax machine that a document examiner must identify when analyzing a document in a situation where the suspect machine is not available.
> What are natural variations? How can they be useful for detecting forgeries?
> Describe two situations in which a document examiner may be prevented from coming to a positive conclusion about a questioned document.
> What is the main advantage of analyzing accelerant residues from a fire using the vapor concentration technique over the headspace technique?
> What are the three mechanisms of heat transfer? What is the difference between them?
> A bottle of gasoline sitting at room temperature does not spontaneously burst into flame, and yet gasoline is an excellent fire accelerant. Based on your knowledge of the chemical reactions that initiate and sustain fire, what needs to happen to that gas
> What produces the violent physical disruption of the surrounding environment released in an explosion? Explain how this creates shrapnel when a bomb explodes.
> What is an oxidizing agent? Why is an oxidizing agent important to an explosion?
> What are the two classes of high explosives? What is the difference between the two classes?
> Which drug is often incorrectly classified as a narcotic? A) Heroin B) Morphine C) Marijuana D) Codeine 12) Which part of cannabis contains the LEAST amount of THC? A) Seeds B) Flower C) Leaf D) Resin 13) What is the most potent form of marijuan
> In the design of a polarizing microscope, the polarizer is placed between the: A) Specimen and the analyzer. B) Analyzer and the eyepiece. C) Light source and the sample stage. D) Sample stage and the analyzer. 12) Normally with a polarizing microsc
> Where will an investigator usually locate the probable point of origin of a fire? What factors can cause a fire to deviate from normal behavior?
> List three common signs of arson at a fire scene.
> Explain the proper collection of evidence at the origin of a fire that is suspected of being initiated by gasoline. Describe the proper submission of controls for laboratory examination.
> What are the three components that make up a nucleotide? Which component consists of four different components, the order of which determines the genetic code of an individual?
> List four ways to minimize contamination of biological evidence.
> Name two advantages and two disadvantages of mitochondrial DNA analysis compared to nuclear DNA analysis.
> List two advantages STRs have over restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs).
> Describe the process of DNA replication. What is the importance of DNA replication?
> What is CODIS? How is CODIS useful to forensic scientists?
> A forensic scientist is examining a pair of underwear with a suspected seminal stain. What tests should she perform on the underwear? What does a positive reaction for each test indicate?
> What is the percentage of evidence evaluated in the crime lab that is drug-related? A) 25% B) 75% C) 60% D) 35% 2) The pattern and intensity of dependency on a drug does NOT depend on the: A) Cost of the drug. B) Individual’s rate of metabolism. C)
> An individual’s father has a genotype of Tt at one locus. The mother has a genotype of TT. What are the possible genotypes for their child? Identify the likelihood of inheriting each specific genotype, and if each type is homozygous or heterozygous.
> The most widespread application of serology is the typing of whole blood for its A-B-O identity. Why do these tests matter to the forensic scientist?
> What is the difference between an antibody and an antigen? What happens when an antibody reacts with its specific antigen?
