Question

Which types of questions would a criminalist or investigator have to be prepared to answer when examining dried blood?

a) Origin of blood
b) Blood type
c) Time of deposition
d) All of the above

Answer 1

A criminalist or investigator examining dried blood must be prepared to answer questions about the blood’s origin, type, and time of deposition to assist law enforcement and legal proceedings.

Step-by-step explanation:

When examining dried blood as part of a criminal investigation, a criminalist or investigator would need to be prepared to answer all of the following types of questions:

• Origin of blood: Determining whether the blood is human or animal and possibly linking it to a specific individual through DNA analysis.
• Blood type: Establishing the ABO and Rh blood groups, which can be critical in building a case and matching or excluding potential suspects.
• Time of deposition: Estimating when the blood was deposited, which is crucial for reconstructing the timeline of events related to the crime.

Biologists, chemists, and biochemists in the field of forensic science apply scientific principles to analyze biological evidence like blood, hair, and other body fluids, as well as employing molecular techniques like DNA analysis to assist law enforcement in solving crimes.