Question

You are examining a strand of hair and you observe that the medullary index is little less than .33. The medulla pattern is absent. What do you conclude?

Answer 1

The strand of hair with a medullary index of less than 0.33 and no medulla pattern is indicative of human hair, as humans typically have a lower medullary index and can lack a distinct medulla.

Step-by-step explanation:

When examining a strand of hair with a medullary index less than 0.33 and no medulla pattern, it is typically indicative of human hair. In forensic science, the medullary index is the ratio of the width of the medulla to the width of the entire hair shaft. Human hair generally has a medullary index of 0.33 or less, while the hair of many animals has a higher index. The absence of a medulla pattern can also suggest that it is human hair, as some human hairs lack a distinct medulla.

However, it should also be considered that some animals can have a similar medullary index, so additional testing such as DNA analysis. Based on these observations, we can conclude that the hair strand being examined has a narrow medulla and lacks a distinct medulla pattern. This information is valuable in forensic science, as it can provide clues about the source of the hair.