Analyzing Physical Evidence

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the body of the victim. Investigators on the crime scene err on the side of caution when it comes to sending evidence to the crime lab. They want to ensure that nothing important of the evidence is missed. Things like clothing worn by the victim, carpeting, and any biological substances found on site, weapon, insect, and anything unusual will be photographed on site. After they have been photographed, they are bagged and sent on to the crime lab for further inspection. From the instant that a piece of evidence is bagged, it will be remaining in a controlled chain of custody to ensure that it is not contaminated. As soon as it arrives at the crime lab, an officer at the lab signs for it and either locks it up or takes it immediately to a work bench for an examination. Everyone who handles the evidence must wear gloves and often protective shields over garments as well to further reduce the risk of contamination.

All evidence which enters a crime lab is given a unique ...

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The isolation of DNA from a sample of blood from a known individual, and the processing of the DNA so that the test results may be obtained. The determination of the DNA test results (or types), from specific regions of the DNA; and 4 the comparison and interpretation of the test results from the unknown and known samples to determine whether the known individual is not the source of the DNA. Also, to add to that, the individual is included as a possible source of the DNA.

Any probative biological sample that has been stored dry or frozen, regardless of age, may be considered for DNA analysis. Each additional test at a previously untested locus (location or site) in the DNA provides ...

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