Forensic Science Unit 1.3: Hair Analysis
My learning objectives:
(7) The student recognizes the methods to process and analyze trace evidence commonly found in a crime scene. The
student is expected to:
(A) perform continuous and light emissions laboratory procedures to identify trace evidence;
(B) process trace evidence such as soil, grass, glass, blood, fibers, and hair collected in a simulated crime scene;
(C) compare the anatomy of the human hair to animal hair;
Objectives for the Unit
Conceptual
Label the parts of a microscope and describe their functions.
Correctly focus the hair under 100 and 40 magnification of a compound
microscope.
Label a diagram of human skin. Include the following structures:
a. Hair
b. Hair follicle
c. Epidermis
d. Dermis
e. Capillaries
Describe the structure and location of the various parts of hair including:
a. Medulla
b. Cuticle
c. Cortex
Describe the functions of hair.
Compare the structure of hair to that of a wooden pencil.
Contrast the five different types of hair medulla.
Describe three different types of hair cuticle formations, and provide an
example of an animal that demonstrates each type of medulla.
Describe the variations found among hairs found on the body; include
head hair, pubic hair, and beard hair.
Distinguish between hair from various ethnic groups in
terms of
a. color
b. texture
c. cross section
d. cortex
Calculate the medullary index of hair.
Compare and contrast human hair with other animal hair. Include in your
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answer:
a. medullar index
b. types of cuticle
c. shape of medulla
Describe the role of keratin in hair.
Describe which part of the hair is living tissue.
Describe the three different growth phases of hair. Include in your
answer the terms anagen, catagen, and telogen.
List and describe five or more characteristics of natural or treated hair that
can be determined by viewing hair under a compound microscope
Describe the difference in the cuticle and cortex appearance between
natural hair and dyed hair.
Given evidence hair collected from a crime scene and hair collected from
several suspects, determine if the evidence hair is consistent with any of the
suspects' hair.
Explain why at least 50 hairs need to be taken from both a rape victim and
a rape suspect when trying to match a hair left at the crime scene to a
specific person.
Provide arguments to support the claim that hair is considered to be
a form of class evidence.
Explain why a hair with the root still attached provides better
evidence for identification of a suspect than just a single hair fiber
without a follicle.
List different types of drugs that may be recorded in hair.
Support the argument that hair is better evidence for long-term drug use than
a urine or blood sample taken from a dead body.
Discuss how chemical isotope analysis of hair can help determine
where a person has lived.
Summarize the value of hair evidence in crime investigations.
Laboratory
Activity 3-1 Trace Evidence: Hair
Activity 3-2 Hair Measurement
Activity 3-3 Hair Testimony Essay
Reflection