Biology · Law Legal Studies

Forensic Science Techniques

654 Questions

Forensic science techniques involve the application of scientific methods like DNA fingerprinting, biometrics, and trace evidence analysis to solve crimes. These topics appear in specialized law enforcement and general science exams. Practice these questions to understand forensic fundamentals.

DNA fingerprinting methodsTrace evidence transferBiometrics and identificationForensic pathology

Forensic Science Techniques Questions

Multiple choice

_____ is the study of the finger prints for the purpose of the identification.

  1. Dactylography

  2. Demonology

  3. Gerentography

  4. Nomadicology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Dactylography is the scientific study and analysis of fingerprints for identification purposes. It is derived from Greek words 'daktylos' (finger) and 'graphia' (writing). It forms the basis of forensic fingerprint analysis used in criminal investigations worldwide. The other options are unrelated: demonology (beliefs about demons), embryology (study of embryos).

Multiple choice

What is the process of labelling of nucleic acid for identification of DNA called?

  1. DNA supercoiling

  2. Nick translation

  3. DNA splicing

  4. DNA mapping

  5. DNA fingerprinting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 A hybridization probe is a fragment of DNA or RNA of variable length (usually 100-1000 bases long), which is used in DNA or RNA samples to detect the presence of nucleotide sequences (the DNA target) that are complementary to the sequence in the probe. The probe thereby hybridizes to single-stranded nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) whose base sequence allows probe-target base pairing due to complementarity between the probe and target.

Multiple choice

What does DNA fingerprinting involve?

  1. Terminators

  2. RFLPs

  3. VNTRs

  4. c DNA

  5. PCR
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Variable Number Tandem Repeat (or VNTR) is a location in a genome where a short nucleotide sequence is organised as a tandem repeat. DNA fingerprinting uses this sequence more frequently.

Multiple choice

When RFLP investigation is used to examine a human gene, the approach is to first find out

  1. a known gene on the same chromosome

  2. a homozygous individual with a simple RFLP pattern

  3. particular DNA sequence located on the same chromosome

  4. particular DNA sign co-inherited with the specific genetic trait

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Genes and anonymous DNA markers located near each other on the same chromosome are linked and do not segregate independently during meiosis.

Multiple choice

Mr. X & Mr. Y both claimed for a child in the hospital. Which of the following would be the least likely to be accepted as legal proof of paternity?

  1. ABO blood type presumption

  2. HLA typing presumption

  3. DNA sequence comparison

  4. All will be equally accepted in the court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Due to Bombay Phenotype and other possible exceptions, the ABO blood type system is not conclusive in determining whether or not someone could be a parent of a particular child. The other two kinds of evidence are much more reliable.

Multiple choice

Who created phallometry?

  1. Stephen Christmas

  2. William Cowper

  3. Richard L. Heschl

  4. Kurt Freund
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

He was a Czech sexologist, who is famed for creating phallometry, i.e. the complete measurement of sexual arousal in males.

Multiple choice

What is rif-lip technique used for?

  1. DNA profiling

  2. Genome mapping

  3. Determination of the risk of a disease

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rif-lip technique is used for DNA profiling, genome mapping and determination of the risk of a disease.

Multiple choice

Why is RFLP analysis done?

  1. To know base sequence of DNA fragment

  2. To detect change in the length of the restriction fragments

  3. To amplify smaller DNA segments

  4. To analyse chromosomes on basis of their shape to form a karyotype
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

RFLP analysis is done to detect the change in the length of the restriction fragments. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following differences form(s) the basis of DNA fingerprinting?

  1. Difference in pattern of genes between individuals

  2. Difference in junk DNA pattern between individuals

  3. Difference in order of genes between individuals

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Junk DNA means non-coding DNA, which is present in the satellites. No two individuals have the same pattern of tandem repeats, i.e. junk DNA, thus it forms the basis of DNA fingerprinting.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sequences of DNA fingerprinting procedure is correct?

  1. Restriction digestion - DNA isolation - Electrophoresis - Southern blotting - Probe hybridisation - Autoradiograph

  2. DNA isolation - Electrophoresis - Restriction digestion - Southern blotting - Probe hybridisation - Autoradiograph

  3. DNA isolation - Restriction digestion - Electrophoresis - Probe hybridisation - Southern blotting - Autoradiograph

  4. DNA isolation - Restriction digestion - Electrophoresis - Southern blotting - Probe hybridisation - Autoradiograph
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct sequence. 

Multiple choice

DNA fingerprinting is applicable everywhere except

  1. to settle disputed parentage

  2. criminal identification and forensics

  3. personal identification

  4. amplification of VNTR region
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

DNA fingerprinting cannot be applied to the amplification of VNTR region.