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Articles » Hair And Fiber
Hair Evidence
Maggie Sat
Hair evidence found at crime scenes has helped tremendously in the past with solving many criminal cases. Hair evidence has been used to establish its origin, and whether or not the hair retrieved at the crime scene compares with hair that is known to have come from a particular individual. For example, if the hair found at the crime scene is compared with the hair removed from the suspect and is found to be a match that would give a direct link from the suspect to the crime scene. Although the distinction between animal hair and human hair is easily seen we have to take into account that hairs can be distinguished from one another by their morphological characteristics. Hair comparisons are made with a comparison microscope where the main goal is to match the color, length, and diameter of the hair. Other features that are important are the absence of Cra medulla and the distribution, shape and color intensity of the pigment granules present in the cortex. The presence of hair dye and bleaching can also be distinguished from the natural colors. Hair is class evidence and therefore it is not possible except in very rare cases to definitely say that a particular hair came from a certain individual.
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morphology
- Biology structure of organism: the form and structure of an organism or of any part of an organism
granules
- a small grain or pellet; a particle
Encarta Encyclopedia 2000
iminalistics 4th edition by Richard Saferstein
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