Basic Forensic Science 1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: pertaining to the law

From the Latin 'forensis' meaning 'of the forum, or public' because the law is a matter of public interest. In Ancient Rome, the Forum was where the law courts were located. The modern meaning of the word "forensic" is "pertaining to the law or justice system".

Answer: Locard's Principle

Dr Edmond Locard opened the world's first police crime laboratory in 1910 in Lyon, France. Locard was a student of Bertillon, also a pioneer of forensic science.

Answer: intelligence

Ethnic background is usually obvious in the features of the skull and teeth. However, these features may be 'blurred' because of cultural mixing. Many occupations leave 'occupational markers' on the skeleton, particularly where physical labour is involved. Lots of diseases also leave markers on the skeleton, for example, most bone diseases, bone cancers, syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis, rickets and anaemia.

Intelligence is determined by many factors and it cannot be deduced reliably from the skeleton.

Answer: The female pelvis is usually deeper than the male pelvis.

The female pelvis is usually wide and shallow, whereas that of the male is narrow and deep. The female pelvis can also tell you whether the woman has borne a child.

Answer: All three statements are true.

Another reason teeth are a useful resource for identification lies in the fact the bones will break down long before the teeth will. Also, if the body is incinerated, teeth can withstand extreme temperatures (up to 1600 degrees Celcius). Thus, dental records can still be used even when bodies are burned and blasted beyond recognition.

Answer: dental records

The top 3 characteristics are: dental records (about 93 percent), physical characteristics of the body (about 44 percent), personal jewellery (about 42 percent). Fourth place is shared by personal documents and fingerprints, about 30.5 percent each. You are probably thinking that this adds up to more than 100 percent.

This is because identifications are never made on the basis of only one factor.

Answer: 13th century China

Believe it or not, the first application of forensic entomology dates back to 1235 in China in a book entitled 'The Washing Away of Wrongs'. Following a murder in a rural village by slashing with a sickle, the local death investigator assembled the farmers and laid their sickles out in the sun. Flies began settling on only one sickle, due to minute traces of blood and tissue still present, despite it having been washed.

The owner of that sickle then confessed.

Answer: Red blood cells are the best source of DNA.

Red blood cells do not have a nucleus. Since DNA is mostly contained in the cell nucleus, red blood cells are not the best source of DNA. DNA is found in white blood cells.

Answer: The UK DNA data base averages about 1,000 successful hits per week.

The UK DNA data base averages about 300 successful hits per week. About 30 percent of these are 'cold hits', demonstrating probable links between the crime scene and a suspect where the police had no prior indication of a connection.

Answer: 1987

Each of these years is signficant in the history of forensic science. In 1984, Jeffreys developed the first DNA profiling test. In 1985, his findings were published in the journal Nature. In 1986, Jeffreys was asked to put his technique to practical use to help investigate the murder of two schoolgirls in Leicester. (Interestingly, in the course of the investigation, DNA was also used for the first time to exonerate an innocent suspect!).

In 1987, Colin Pitchfork was convicted for the murders, and also in 1987, DNA profiling was used for the first time in an American criminal court to convict Tommy Lee Andrews of a series of sexual assaults in Orlando, Florida.