1.1.1 A sketchy scene

Forensic scientist: The application of scientific knowledge to resolve questions of civil and criminal law.

1.1.2 Reliable Witnesses? (8/22/19)

Heart rate: A measure of cardiac activity usually expressed in number of beats per minute.

Vital signs: Measurements—specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure—that indicate the state of a patient’s essential body functions.

Pulse: The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction.

Respiratory rate: The number of breaths an organism takes per minute.

1.1.2 Reliable Witnesses? (Experimental design) 8/24/22

Experiments: A research study conducted to understand an observed phenomenon; determines the effect that one variable has upon another variable.

Hypothesis: A statement predicting the anticipated results of an experiment.

Experimental design: A process used to carefully plan experiments in order to investigate scientific questions or problems.

Iterative: Repeating a series of steps over and over until the desired outcome is obtained.

**Independent variables:**In an experiment, the variable that the researcher intentionally changes to determine its influence on the dependent variable.

Dependent variables: In an experiment, the variable being measured and whose value is influenced by another variable.

1.1.3 The Traces We Leave Behind (8/26/22)

Trace Evidence: Tiny fragments of physical evidence, such as hairs, fibers from clothing or carpeting, and pieces of glass.

Forensic Science: The application of scientific knowledge to resolve questions of civil and criminal law.

1.1.4 Blood Evidence (8/31/22)

Erythrocytes: Hemoglobin-rich, red blood cells that transport oxygen through a body. Erythrocytes give the red color to vertebrate blood and do not have nuclei.

**Leukocytes :**One of the many cells in the blood that lack hemoglobin but have a nucleus and are active in the immune response.

• Lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are leucocytes.

Thrombocytes: A minute, colorless, anucleate disk-like body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and damaged epithelium.

Plasma: The pale yellow, liquid portion of blood that consists of water and dissolved substances, including sugars, lipids, metabolic waste products, amino acids, hormones, and vitamins.

Hemoglobin: A protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Antigens: Anything that stimulates an immune response.

Positive Control: In an experiment, the group that the researcher expects to have a positive result, to show that the experimental setup was capable of producing results.

Negative Control: In an experiment, the group in which the conditions produce a negative outcome. Negative control groups help identify outside influences that were not accounted for when the procedure was created.

ABO System: A system of four types (A, AB, B, and O) which human blood is classified into, based on the presence or absence of certain antigens.

Antibody: A protein produced by B cells in the blood; works to impair pathogens. Also called immunoglobulin.

Agglutination: The clumping of particles.