BSFS Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of fingerprint pattern is most common in the general population?
- Arch
- Loop (Correct answer)
- Whorl
- Composite
Correct answer: Loop
Loop patterns account for approximately 60-65% of all fingerprints, making them the most common pattern type.
Question 2: What does the term 'Locard's Exchange Principle' state?
- Every crime has a motive
- Every contact leaves a trace (Correct answer)
- Every suspect has an alibi
- Every scene has a witness
Correct answer: Every contact leaves a trace
Locard's Exchange Principle holds that whenever two objects come into contact, there is always a transfer of material from each object onto the other.
Question 3: In forensic toxicology, what does postmortem redistribution refer to?
- Movement of drugs from crime scene to lab
- Changes in drug concentration after death due to tissue diffusion (Correct answer)
- Distribution of toxicology reports to agencies
- Transfer of blood samples between containers
Correct answer: Changes in drug concentration after death due to tissue diffusion
Postmortem redistribution is the movement of drugs from solid tissues into blood after death, which can artificially elevate measured drug concentrations.
Question 4: Which federal law governs the handling and disposal of hazardous biological materials in a forensic lab?
- HIPAA
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (Correct answer)
- FERPA
- Clean Air Act
Correct answer: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) mandates procedures for handling materials that may contain blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'blank' sample in forensic chemical analysis?
- To calibrate instrument temperature
- To detect contamination and establish a baseline with no analyte (Correct answer)
- To confirm chain of custody
- To test analyst competency
Correct answer: To detect contamination and establish a baseline with no analyte
A blank sample contains no analyte of interest and is used to detect background contamination and establish a zero reference for instrument readings.
Question 6: Which skeletal feature is most reliable for determining biological sex in adults?
- Skull sutures
- Pelvis morphology (Correct answer)
- Long bone length
- Rib count
Correct answer: Pelvis morphology
The pelvis is the most sexually dimorphic region of the skeleton, with female pelvises adapted for childbirth, providing accuracy rates over 95% for sex determination.
Question 7: What is a 'questioned document' in forensic science?
- A document whose authenticity, authorship, or content is in dispute (Correct answer)
- A court subpoena for lab records
- A classified government file
- A document written in a foreign language
Correct answer: A document whose authenticity, authorship, or content is in dispute
A questioned document is any document whose origin, authorship, or content is disputed and submitted for forensic examination.
BSFS Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science 2
Which type of fingerprint pattern is most common in the general population?