Forensic Labs Round 2

1: What scientific ideas or theories would help you explain why you are able to use the procedures to analyze evidence?

The Colorimeter helped a lot with analyzing evidence. We could tell by looking at the samples maybe how much distilled water was in each cuvette, but the colorimeter made it easy to see the actual numbers. Also, I had many questions about how the labs worked, how alcohol made it so you could see the color patterns in the ink. I wondered what the pink solution in Killer Cup of Coffee really was, and if it was actually toxic to humans. In the impression lab, I wondered what other materials could have been used to make impressions, or if there was a different way to make an impression of the footprint.

(I'm not exactly sure about this answer, since I don't quite understand the question but I did my best!)

2: How has your approach to lab procedures changed from the first round of labs. Are you more/less confident in you results? Why?

I think my approach to lab procedures has changed a lot from the first round of labs. I am much more careful about measurements, tests and how the work is split up between partners. Being able to pick our own lab partners influenced how well the labs went. I noticed there was less of a crunch for time, and the lab stations were more organized. I think I am more confident in my results because I have learned from the first round of labs that it is extremely important to go slowly and take careful measurements.

Forensic Labs Round 1

1. What role do multiple observations/experiments play in making good inferences and conclusions in each case?

This is sort of the same question as the one from the blood splatter lab, but I'll do the best I can to answer it in different words. :)

Having multiple trials or samples, helps make better conclusions because there is more data to look at. For example in the fibers lab we had three different magnifications for each of the samples AND we had the data from burning the fiber to compare to the fiber from the victim. It was similar for the other two labs, for each sample there were multiple tests to compare to. In the soil lab we did the water absorbency, the pH level, and the conductivity test. In the bullet lab we looked at the shell casing, the bullet and record the weight, imprint, and other observations about how the bullet looked.

2. When is it hard to be precise and how does this affect the confidence in your results? What did you do about this?

I think that in each lab, there is always a time when it is impossible to be completely accurate, and when it doesn't matter too much if the answers aren't completely correct, because it is about the proccess not the product. For example, in the soil lab, we would aproximate the pH level, because it didn't matter if the decimemal was one or two tenths off. In the bullets lab, it was sometimes easy to be accurate. The grams/grains were clear, and involved calculations to get the answers. But it was hard to be exactly precise with measurements, especially while measuring lands/groves and diameter. Also, there were times when our information didn't match up with the data tables and sheets that were provided, and we had to estimate a little or round up numbers. In the fibers lab it was hard to be accurate in data, sometimes our samples would be different sizes or lengths so it was hard to compare to the victim sample while burning them. Being less accurate definetly affected the confidence in my results. When we "fudged" the answers a little bit, OUR data might not match up with the data from the bullet refrence sheet, or even other samples. I don't think there is much you can do about this, except to try to be accurate and aproximate the answers.

3. When can you rely on "known" data to match up with and when you need to generate your own? What is the difference?

"known" data is information that you already have, or information that has been given to you and you have to generate information by looking at the samples, running tests and making your own hypothesis about who the victim was. In all three labs, there was known data provided and parts where you had to generate your own. In the bullets lab, the known data was the powerpoint, it gave examples and information on how to identify different parts of a gun and bullet. The data you had to generate was examining the bullets and recording the information like weight, bullet type, lands and groves, etc. In the fibers lab, the known data was the sample from the victim, and the other samples because you already had them, and the information about which person each sample came from. The data you had to generate was looking through the microscope and recording what you saw and burning the fibers and recording that information as well. In the soil lab, the known data was where the dirt samples came from and the data you had to gather was the pH levels, water absorbency, and conductivity test.

Blood Splatter Lab 1

Question 1: How did multiple drops at each height affect your results? What is the purpose of multiple trials in a experiment?

I think the purpose of doing multiple drops at each hight because if there is an "outlier" or piece of data that doesn't make sense, you have two other blood drops to refer too. Also, having three different trials didn't affect our results dramatically, but it was useful if we had one droplet that didn't fit the rest, we didn't have to rely solely on that information.

Question 2: What did you discover about the influence of height on blood diameter in a blood spatter? could you now accurately infer the height at which a blood drop originated based on the diameter of a blood spatter? Why or why not?

I think that the higher you drop the blood from, the less accurate your blood drops will be. Many times it was hard to get the blood drop exactly in the box on the chart. I don't think I could tell what hight a blood drop was dropped from because according to our data, the diameter of each blood drop was about the same, even when dropped from higher heights.

Sound of Science

15 people are sitting in a warm room lit by candles. They are speaking French and English as some of them have come a long way to enjoy the holiday feast. The dinner is delicious, a golden turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and dark green beans with warm pumpkin pie for dessert. While it may appear that this happy holiday is completely innocent, all the members sitting at the table have been selected for their talent, stealth and language fluency. Except for James Leaden, who only speaks English, and feeling quite uncomfortable not being able to communicate, was sitting quietly picking at his mashed potatoes.

Alexandra Calder banged loudly against the side of her wine glass, attempting to get all 14 member’s attention. The chatter hushed and Alexandra began to speak.

“You have all been specially selected from France as some of the top discovery detectives in the world, for you talent, stealth and language fluency, except for Mr. Leaden who only speaks English.” Everyone laughed except for James, who still didn’t have a clue what was going on because she was speaking French.

Genevieve Hanson stared up at Alexandra’s bright blue dress, metallic green glasses and purple boots. Genevieve was clearly the youngest member at the table; everyone else averaged around the age of 37, while Genevieve was only a mere 13. The food was delicious, she couldn’t deny that, and maybe being forced to come to this meeting wasn’t all that bad, but originally it had seemed like torture. Genevieve thought back to when her parents had told her, saying that it was an honor, to be chosen, especially at an age like hers. Blah blah blah. So Genevieve was now sitting next to two very important looking men and women, listening to some woman in a blue dress, talk about how great, and important, and wonderful it was to be here.

Wilson Henry glared at the child sitting pitifully in the chair across the table. He felt bad for her, but having a member be so young, couldn’t be good for her health or for the team. Wilson had been to this meeting many years past, making him the oldest member of the GNAT (global, nations, attendance, training). A horrible acronym and what it stood for. It sounded so stupid to say “I’m part of the GNAT.” He usually got reactions like. “You’re a gnat?” or “you are part of a gnat?” or worse. And when he told them what it stood for (which legally he wasn’t supposed to do) they were even more confused because Global, Nations, Attendance Training, said nothing about what they did there, or even what it was.

The door to the room swung open to reveal a tall shadow that floated across the floor. The shadow moved across the floor with silence pausing every few people. No one moved or even blinked an eye. The shadow belonged to a pair of slim knee high black boots, tight leather pants, a black button down shirt, and a scruffy bearded man. The shadow was Xavier Taylor.

Genevieve quivered in her seat, for she hadn't been expecting this. Xavier stood behind her, and she waited for him to pass on, but he remained like a giant stone looming above her.

"Genevieve." His voice cut through the silence like a razor sharp metal.

"Yes?" her voice squeaked.

"I am Xavier Taylor, and I've come to prepare you for your mission."

Sigh. It was the same last year. Big appearance, stops behind some new guy, freaks them out, tells about the mission in a Darth Vador voice and 2 hours later we actually get to do something. Austin Cooper felt bad for the young girl Xavier was standing behind. Just wait until next year kid. He thought and leaned against the back of his chair. He half listened to Xavier drone on about the mission, watching Genevieve's eyes light up. No doubt she thought the training mission was real. She wouldn't even be able to go out on a real mission until she was at least 20. The GNAT members who had come last year still had to go to the training mission as GNAT meetings and missions were only once a year.

It suddenly occurred to Wilson that GNAT missions only happened once a year. He wondered if there were other missions other times of the year that no one knew about, because it seemed strange to him that they only at a certain time per year.

I am so not getting paid enough for this. Alexandra thought as she listened to Xavier. She did love her job; it was just getting so repetitive. She reviewed her folder for the information on the REAL mission, which would take place the following day. It was a different case each time, at least that was good. She glanced up to see Genevieve's face, light up as Xavier talked. Why had the GNAT office chosen her? Alexandra wondered. She was too young to participate in the mission tomorrow and unless she had super powers, she would no doubt be removed from the team soon.

Xavier was sweating in his black clothes. He was just a normal guy who worked for GNAT, and once a year had to dress in all black to present a mission. GNAT wasn't even a real spy agency, just one that got people ready to take on more serious missions. He wasn't sure why he had stood behind Genevieve Hanson, but he thought there was something very innocent about her. He wrapped up his speech about the practice mission and waited for Alexandra to introduce the real one.

Welcome!

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This is the first blog I have ever written! How exciting.