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Forensic Science & Analysis Flashcards

7 cards from real FBI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. An FBI evidence response team (ERT) documents a crime scene using 3D laser scanning technology. What is the PRIMARY forensic advantage of this technology over traditional photography?

    Answer: It creates a permanent, measurable 3D record allowing precise measurements to be taken later

    3D laser scanning creates a precise point-cloud model of the scene, allowing examiners to take accurate measurements and revisit spatial relationships long after the scene is released.

  2. A questioned hair sample is submitted for nuclear DNA analysis but yields insufficient results. The examiner then submits it for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. Which of the following is a key limitation of mtDNA evidence compared to nuclear DNA?

    Answer: mtDNA is inherited maternally, so all maternal relatives share the same profile

    Because mtDNA is inherited exclusively through the maternal line, it cannot distinguish between maternal relatives, limiting its ability to uniquely identify one individual.

  3. When processing a vehicle for latent fingerprints on exterior painted surfaces, which development technique is generally most effective?

    Answer: Cyanoacrylate (super glue) fuming followed by fluorescent dye staining

    Cyanoacrylate fuming polymerizes on latent print residue to fix the print, and subsequent fluorescent dye staining (e.g., Lumicyano or Basic Yellow 40) greatly enhances contrast on painted surfaces.

  4. During an arson investigation, an accelerant detection canine alerts to a specific area of flooring. A sample is collected. Which laboratory technique is the gold standard for identifying and quantifying ignitable liquid residues (ILR)?

    Answer: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

    GC-MS separates and identifies individual compounds in ignitable liquid residues with high sensitivity and specificity, making it the definitive confirmatory method per ASTM standards.

  5. An agent testifying as an expert witness on ballistic evidence is asked about 'terminal ballistics.' This term refers to:

    Answer: The behavior and effect of a projectile after it strikes a target

    Terminal ballistics studies what happens when a projectile impacts and interacts with a target, including penetration depth, energy transfer, and wound channel formation.

  6. In a federal explosives investigation, post-blast analysis of a scene reveals inorganic nitrate residues. Which confirmatory analytical method is commonly used to identify specific anion and cation components in explosive residues?

    Answer: Ion chromatography (IC)

    Ion chromatography separates and identifies ionic species such as nitrate, chlorate, and perchlorate anions and associated cations, making it the standard method for inorganic explosive residue analysis.

  7. A federal agent is briefed that a crime lab reports a DNA CODIS hit. What does a CODIS 'hit' specifically mean in an investigation?

    Answer: A DNA profile from evidence matches a profile in the Combined DNA Index System database

    A CODIS hit means the DNA profile developed from crime scene evidence matched a profile already stored in the Combined DNA Index System, potentially identifying a suspect or linking cases.