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

Modern forensic scientists are using a most developed tool, namely,

  1. NMR imaging

  2. Enzymology

  3. DNA Finger Printing

  4. Ultra Sound
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

DNA fingerprinting is the most revolutionary forensic tool for identification, using unique genetic profiles to match suspects to crime scene evidence. It has transformed criminal investigation with high precision. NMR is medical imaging, enzymology studies enzyme reactions, and ultrasound is diagnostic imaging.

Multiple choice

Consider the following features of DNA (1) DNA is a large molecule in human cells and contains the genetic information about that person. (2) The chemical composition of DNA of an individual is rarely found in another person. (3) Excepting the identical twins, no two persons are the same on the basis of the chemical composition of DNA. Which of these feature(s) of DNA has/have been found useful in criminal investigations?

  1. 1 only

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 1 and 3

  4. 2 only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The chemical uniqueness of DNA (except in identical twins) makes it invaluable for criminal identification. Features 1 and 3 are correct - DNA contains genetic information, and no two individuals (except identical twins) have the same DNA composition. Feature 2 is incorrect because DNA composition CAN be found in other people - relatives share similar DNA patterns.

Multiple choice

First person to be convicted by the process of DNA fingerprinting.

  1. Sully Prudhomme

  2. Colin Pitchfork

  3. Jean Henri

  4. Withelm Conrad
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Colin Pitchfork was the first person convicted using DNA fingerprinting in 1988 in Leicester, England. He was arrested for two murders and the new DNA technology proved his guilt. The other options are incorrect names unrelated to forensic science.

Multiple choice

An individual's _______ brain waves are measured in brain fingerprinting.

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Brain fingerprinting is a technique which is designed to determine whether an individual recognizes specific information related to an event or activity by measuring electrical brain waves. The technique works only in situations where investigators have a sufficient amount of specific information about an event or activity that could only have been known to the investigator and criminal.

Brain fingerprinting measures electrical brain activity via a fitted headband containing special sensors. In this, the person who has to be tested wears a headband with electronic sensors that measure the brain waves from several locations on the scalp. Brain fingerprinting uses cognitive brain responses and it does not depend upon the emotions of a subject.

Dr. Lawrence Farwell is the inventor of the technique who has used the technique in one court case to determine the innocence of a man convicted of a murder. In his experiment, Farwell showed each person pictures from the crime scene and measured their brainwave response to see which person had seen the crime scene before. Farwell claimed the test is 99.99 infallible and he convinced the court to free the convicted person. The technique can be used to fight terrorism if mandated. On the other hand, critics question whether brain fingerprinting could be administered efficiently and without a considerable number of false readings.

  1. magnetic

  2. electrical

  3. chemical

  4. mechanical

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

As per statement ‘an individual recognize specific information related to an event or activity by measuring electrical brain wave.’ Option 2 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

_________ help in gauging the brain waves from different parts of scalp.

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Brain fingerprinting is a technique which is designed to determine whether an individual recognizes specific information related to an event or activity by measuring electrical brain waves. The technique works only in situations where investigators have a sufficient amount of specific information about an event or activity that could only have been known to the investigator and criminal.

Brain fingerprinting measures electrical brain activity via a fitted headband containing special sensors. In this, the person who has to be tested wears a headband with electronic sensors that measure the brain waves from several locations on the scalp. Brain fingerprinting uses cognitive brain responses and it does not depend upon the emotions of a subject.

Dr. Lawrence Farwell is the inventor of the technique who has used the technique in one court case to determine the innocence of a man convicted of a murder. In his experiment, Farwell showed each person pictures from the crime scene and measured their brainwave response to see which person had seen the crime scene before. Farwell claimed the test is 99.99 infallible and he convinced the court to free the convicted person. The technique can be used to fight terrorism if mandated. On the other hand, critics question whether brain fingerprinting could be administered efficiently and without a considerable number of false readings.

  1. Headband

  2. Person

  3. Sensors

  4. Fingerprinting

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

“With electronic sensors that measure the brain waves from several locations on the scalp.” Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Emotions of a subject ________ affect brain fingerprinting.

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Brain fingerprinting is a technique which is designed to determine whether an individual recognizes specific information related to an event or activity by measuring electrical brain waves. The technique works only in situations where investigators have a sufficient amount of specific information about an event or activity that could only have been known to the investigator and criminal.

Brain fingerprinting measures electrical brain activity via a fitted headband containing special sensors. In this, the person who has to be tested wears a headband with electronic sensors that measure the brain waves from several locations on the scalp. Brain fingerprinting uses cognitive brain responses and it does not depend upon the emotions of a subject.

Dr. Lawrence Farwell is the inventor of the technique who has used the technique in one court case to determine the innocence of a man convicted of a murder. In his experiment, Farwell showed each person pictures from the crime scene and measured their brainwave response to see which person had seen the crime scene before. Farwell claimed the test is 99.99 infallible and he convinced the court to free the convicted person. The technique can be used to fight terrorism if mandated. On the other hand, critics question whether brain fingerprinting could be administered efficiently and without a considerable number of false readings.

  1. hardly

  2. strongly

  3. necessarily

  4. intelligently

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

“Brain fingerprinting uses cognitive brain responses, it does not depend upon the emotions of a subject.” As brain fingerprinting does not depend upon the emotions, so emotions hardly affect it. Hence, option 1 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Brain fingerprinting cannot be done _________.

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Brain fingerprinting is a technique which is designed to determine whether an individual recognizes specific information related to an event or activity by measuring electrical brain waves. The technique works only in situations where investigators have a sufficient amount of specific information about an event or activity that could only have been known to the investigator and criminal.

Brain fingerprinting measures electrical brain activity via a fitted headband containing special sensors. In this, the person who has to be tested wears a headband with electronic sensors that measure the brain waves from several locations on the scalp. Brain fingerprinting uses cognitive brain responses and it does not depend upon the emotions of a subject.

Dr. Lawrence Farwell is the inventor of the technique who has used the technique in one court case to determine the innocence of a man convicted of a murder. In his experiment, Farwell showed each person pictures from the crime scene and measured their brainwave response to see which person had seen the crime scene before. Farwell claimed the test is 99.99 infallible and he convinced the court to free the convicted person. The technique can be used to fight terrorism if mandated. On the other hand, critics question whether brain fingerprinting could be administered efficiently and without a considerable number of false readings.

  1. when there is adequate information

  2. when sensors are not used

  3. when there is no criminal

  4. when there is a lack of information

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'The techniques works only in situations where investigators have a sufficient amount of specific information about an event or activity’. It means in the lack of information brain fingerprinting does not work. Hence, option 4 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Identify the INCORRECT statement.

  1. Gel electrophoresis is a basic technique used to separate DNA, RNA or proteins.

  2. PCR is a laboratory technique for amplifying a specific DNA sequence.

  3. The Southern blotting technique depends on similarities between the sequences of probe RNA and experimental RNA.

  4. Electroporation used to transfer polar molecules like DNA into host cells.

  5. The Northern blotting is a laboratory method used to detect specific RNA molecules from a mixture of RNA molecules.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Southern blotting technique is a laboratory method used to detect specific DNA molecules from among a many other DNA molecules. The Southern blotting technique depends on similarities between the sequences of probe DNA and experimental DNA.

Multiple choice

Which of the following are phylogenetic footprinting–based methods?

P. ConSite Q. PromH(W) R. MEME S. AlignACE

  1. Only P and Q

  2. Only P and R

  3. Only P and S

  4. Only Q and R

  5. Only R and S
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Phylogenetic Footprinting–Based Method The identification of conserved noncoding DNA elements that serve crucial functional roles is referred to as phylogenetic footprinting; the elements are called phylogenetic footprints. This type of method can apply to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic sequences. ConSite is a web server that finds putative promoter elements by comparing two orthologous sequences. PromH(W) is a web-based program that predicts regulatory sites by pair- wise sequence comparison.

Multiple choice

The process used for amplification or multiplication of DNA for finger printing is

  1. polymerase chain reaction

  2. nesslerisation

  3. southern blotting

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

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a process used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.