Forensic Science Midterm Review

Unit 1: Introduction to Forensics, Crime Scene & Physical Evidence

1. Name the 4 units of a crime lab and give examples of evidence that may be sent to each unit.
2. What was the first crime lab in the world and the U.S.?
3. What are the most important things to do when approaching a crime scene?
4. What are 3 ways to record a crime scene?
5. What parts are required in a crime scene sketch?
6. What are the 3 types of evidence?
7. What is Locards Exchange Principle?
8. Know the different areas of forensics.
9. What is the difference between individual and class evidence. Give examples of each type.
10. Who developed the first system for personal identification?
11. Explain what they are and how to determine time of death based off of the following: rigor mortis, livor
mortis, and algor mortis.
12. What are the 6 stages of the life cycle of a fly?
13. How does weather affect the life cycle of a fly?
14. What is PMI?
15. What are the 4 main characteristics that can be determined about a person using their skeleton?
16. How can you use a skeleton to determine gender?
17. How can you use a skeleton to determine age?
18. Know the scientific names of the bones.

Unit 2: Drugs & Toxicology

19. What are the light sources in spectrophotometry?
20. What are the different types of chromatography?
21. How is alcohol absorbed and excreted in the body?
22. What factors can affect the absorption rate of alcohol?
23. What are the different field sobriety tests?
24. What are the different color tests for drugs? Know what the test for and what color they turn if it is
positive.
25. What are the different types of drugs? How do they affect your body and what drugs are classified under
that type?
26. Who is the father of forensic toxicology?
27. What is the difference between psychological and physiological dependence?
28. How are drugs classified with the Controlled Substances Act?

Unit 3: Blood
29. What antigens and antibodies do each of the blood types contain?
30. What are the different types of preliminary color tests that can be conducted to determine if blood is
present?
31. What test is used to determine if blood is from a human or animal?
32. What is the difference between phenotype and genotype?
33. How does angle affect the blood spatter?
34. How can you determine the direction that blood is traveling?
35. How does height affect blood spatter?
36. Be able to determine blood type based on if there is clumping.
37. What are the different types of blood stains? Be able to give examples of each.
38. Be able to identify parent drops, satellite drops, and spines.
39. How do low, medium and high velocity blood spatter differ?
40. What type of container should blood stained materials be stored in?