Correlation of Microscopic and Mitochondrial DNA Comparisons
Forensic hair analysis through the traditional microscopic method is often instrumental to crime solving. There are, however, instances when microscopic analysis is inadequate. The advent of mitochondrial DNA testing provides additional scientific approach to examination of hair specimens. With advances in technology and research in forensics, crime solving through hair analysis has become a lot easier in recent years. Comparisons of morphological characteristics of the human hair is accepted in the scientific and legal communities, now the method of mitochondrial DNA sequencing provides complements to the existing hair test to add to the findings. The use of both methods in crime solving has become beneficial to forensic hair analysis.
The science of hair comparison has been used in thousands of criminal cases for decades. Hair, because of its widespread presence at crime scenes, has great evidentiary value in forensic science. Even if a suspect has tried to clean the crime scene of any evidence such as personal possessions, fingerprints or footprints, hair strands always seem to stick in the matter found in that area. Since hair is so personal to individuals, it serves as a great indictor of who was there. The forensic testing of hair strands has very early roots. It was first used as evidence in 1861, but did not gain scientific acceptance until after the turn of the century, and public acceptance until the late 1950's. During this time acceptance of hair testing was widespread, and police received enormous support for any evidence consisting of hair strands. Through the charting of various fibers found in hair properties the process of retrieving hidden information is beneficial
Baylee Bell Page 2
to helping solve a crime. You brush up against... [continues]
Forensic hair analysis through the traditional microscopic method is often instrumental to crime solving. There are, however, instances when microscopic analysis is inadequate. The advent of mitochondrial DNA testing provides additional scientific approach to examination of hair specimens. With advances in technology and research in forensics, crime solving through hair analysis has become a lot easier in recent years. Comparisons of morphological characteristics of the human hair is accepted in the scientific and legal communities, now the method of mitochondrial DNA sequencing provides complements to the existing hair test to add to the findings. The use of both methods in crime solving has become beneficial to forensic hair analysis.
The science of hair comparison has been used in thousands of criminal cases for decades. Hair, because of its widespread presence at crime scenes, has great evidentiary value in forensic science. Even if a suspect has tried to clean the crime scene of any evidence such as personal possessions, fingerprints or footprints, hair strands always seem to stick in the matter found in that area. Since hair is so personal to individuals, it serves as a great indictor of who was there. The forensic testing of hair strands has very early roots. It was first used as evidence in 1861, but did not gain scientific acceptance until after the turn of the century, and public acceptance until the late 1950's. During this time acceptance of hair testing was widespread, and police received enormous support for any evidence consisting of hair strands. Through the charting of various fibers found in hair properties the process of retrieving hidden information is beneficial
Baylee Bell Page 2
to helping solve a crime. You brush up against... [continues]
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