Chapter 3: Hair Analysis

Open Ended

In what ways can the structure of hair help forensic scientists during a criminal investigation and why is this important?

Multiple Choice

Why is hair considered a valuable source of evidence in forensic science?

• Because it is easy to collect and analyze

• Because it can provide information about the individual and the circumstances of a crime

• Because it is always present at crime scenes

• Because it is the only type of biological evidence

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of hair that makes it valuable as evidence?

• Adheres to many surfaces

• Easily transfers to a victim or crime scene

• Contains melanin

• Has a tough outer coating

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about DNA in hair are correct?

• Hairs with an attached follicle contain nuclear DNA.

• Hairs without a root or follicle contain mitochondrial DNA.

• All choices are correct

• Mitochondrial DNA in hair can reveal family relationships.

Multiple Choice

What is a limitation of using hair as evidence in a crime scene investigation?

• Hair can always determine the exact time of transfer.

• Hair may be a secondary transfer.

• Hair always contains nuclear DNA.

• Hair cannot be analyzed chemically.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a function of hair in the human body?

• Stores fat

• Regulates body temperature

• Produces hormones

• Absorbs nutrients

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a stage in the life cycle of hair?

• Anagen stage

• Catagen stage

• Telogen stage

• Keratin stage

Labelling

Label the parts of a hair shaft

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

medulla

cuticle

cortex

Open Ended

Explain the differences between the follicle and the hair shaft in terms of their structure and function.

Multiple Select

Which of the following characteristics can vary among different types of human hair?

• Shape

• Length

• Texture

• Blood vessel content

Fill in the Blank

The ratio of the diameter of the medulla to the diameter of the entire hair is called the ___.

Multiple Choice

What is the first step when collecting hair that is firmly attached to clothing as evidence?

• Photograph the hair

• Leave hairs intact

• Diagram and note exact location

• Package clothing with attached hair

Open Ended

Describe the proper procedure for collecting hair evidence that is not firmly attached at a crime scene.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a method used in microscopic analysis of hair?

• Low-power compound

• Phase-contrast microscopy

• Fluorescence microscopy

• Gas chromatography

Multiple Select

Which of the following are considered advances in hair analysis?

• Neutron activation analysis (NAA)

• Phase-contrast microscopy

• Isotope ratio mass spectroscopy (IRMS)

• Protein analysis

Fill in the Blank

Hair can be a common and often overlooked form of ___.

Multiple Choice

What protein is the hair shaft primarily composed of?

• Collagen

• Keratin

• Elastin

• Melanin

Open Ended

Describe how IRMS and NAA contribute to the chemical analysis of hair in forensic science.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason why hair is useful in forensic investigations?

• Hair can be analyzed using a variety of methods.

• A criminal can unknowingly leave hair behind at a crime scene.

• Hair can be used to determine the age of a person.

• Structure of hair can let forensic scientists determine if hair is human or nonhuman.

Open Ended

Summarize one key reason why hair is considered a valuable source of evidence in forensic science.

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between the type of DNA evidence provided by the hair shaft and the hair follicle?

• The hair shaft provides mitochondrial DNA for class evidence, while the hair follicle provides nuclear DNA for individual evidence.

• The hair shaft provides nuclear DNA for individual evidence, while the hair follicle provides mitochondrial DNA for class evidence.

• Both the hair shaft and hair follicle provide only mitochondrial DNA.

• Both the hair shaft and hair follicle provide only nuclear DNA.