Hair Analysis Worksheet
Explore the science behind hair analysis, its applications in forensic science, and the different characteristics used to identify hair samples.
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Hair Analysis: Forensic Science
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Read each question carefully and provide detailed answers based on your knowledge of hair analysis in forensic science.
1. Which part of the hair contains mitochondrial DNA?
Cortex
Medulla
Root
Cuticle
2. What is the primary purpose of examining the medulla in forensic hair analysis?
To determine hair color
To identify hair origin (human vs. animal)
To assess hair damage
To determine hair length
3. The outermost layer of hair, composed of overlapping scales, is called the .
4. Hair grows from a structure called the , which is located in the dermis.
5. The central core of the hair shaft, which may be continuous, interrupted, fragmented, or absent, is the .
6. Describe two key differences between human hair and animal hair that forensic scientists look for under a microscope.
7. Explain why the presence of a follicular tag on a hair sample is significant in forensic investigations.
8. Observe the image of human hair under a microscope. Identify and label at least two visible structures or characteristics that a forensic scientist would analyze.
9. A hair sample can definitively identify an individual through nuclear DNA analysis, even without the root.
True
False
10. The racial origin of a hair can often be determined with high certainty by examining its cross-sectional shape.
True
False