An applied approach to teaching forensic microscopy in educational settings, featuring new experiments and an up-to-date overview of the field
Practical Forensic Microscopy: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, is a unique resource that brings the microscopic procedures used by real-world forensic investigators to the college laboratory, providing hands-on knowledge of the microscopes and microscopic techniques used in the field. Presenting a balanced, skills-based approach to the subject, this student-friendly lab manual contains dozens of experiments designed to cover the various microscopic evidence disciplines, including examinations of fingerprints, firearm, toolmark, shoeprint and tire impressions, gunshots, fibers, soil, , glass breakage, drugs, semen, and human hair.
The second edition includes revised and updated experiments that reflect current technologies and techniques used in forensic science, including new experiments examining plastic film, food condiments, feathers, building materials, explosive residue, cigarette butts and more. Each chapter includes a list of simple objectives for the experiment, a general overview of the topic, further readings, and selected references. The manual contains worksheets and templates for students to use when compiling analytical results. The concluding chapter features an innovative case scenario that requires students to analyze items of evidence, complete a laboratory report, reach a conclusion, and present their findings. This popular lab manual:
- Teaches practical forensic microscopy skills through hands-on experiments and engaging practical activities
- Covers a wide range of microscopes and forensic tools, including stereomicroscopes, ocular micrometers, and fluorescence, polarized light, and phase contrast microscopes
- Explains simple stereomicroscopic techniques for analyzing various types of common forensic evidence
- Includes more complex procedures for examining biological, drug, and trace evidence
- Discusses laboratory safety, microscope maintenance, and the Micro Kit
Written by an author with years of academic and professional experience, Practical Forensic Microscopy: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, is a must-have companion for any college-level forensic science course with a laboratory component, and is a useful supplement for related courses that cover microscopy and the principles of forensic lab procedures.
Barbara P. Wheeler worked with the Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory for many years, providing forensic work and analytical examinations to the law enforcement community. As Adjunct Professor in the Forensic Science Program at Eastern Kentucky University, she taught in various forensic courses and with placing students in laboratory internships. Wheeler has worked thousands of criminal cases and has testified in district, state, and federal courts as an expert witness in forensics.
Preface
Acknowledgements
Laboratory Safety
Microscope Maintenance
The Micro Kit
Experiments:
Chapter 1: Stereomicroscope
1A)Familiarization with the Stereomicroscope
Chapter 2: The Compound Light Microscope
2A) Familiarization with the Compound Light Microscope
2B)Measurements using the Ocular Micrometer
2C)Microscopic Mounting Techniques
2D)Determining Refractive Index
Chapter 3: The Polarizing Light Microscope
3A)Familiarization with the Polarized Light Microscope
3B)Determining Refractive Index for Anisotropic Materials
3C) Determining Birefringence and Sign of Elongation
Chapter 4: The Fluorescence Microscope
4A) Familiarization with the Fluorescence Microscope
Chapter 5: The Phase Contrast Microscope
5A) Familiarization with the Phase Contrast Microscope
Application Experiments:
Chapter 6: Physical Match Examinations
Chapter 7: Construction Examinations of Evidence
Chapter 8: Lamp Filament Examinations
Chapter 9: Fingerprint Examinations
Chapter 10: Tool mark Examinations
Chapter 11: Firearms Examinations
11A) Gunshot Residue
Chapter 12: Shoe and Tire Print/Impression Examinations
Chapter 13: Botanical Materials
Chapter 14: Paint Examinations
Chapter 15: Cigarette Butt Examinations
Chapter 16: Document Examinations
Chapter 17: Hair Examinations
17A) Animal Hair Examinations
17B) Determination of Racial and Somatic Origin
Characteristics of Human Hair
17C) Human Hair Examinations and Comparisons
17D) Evaluation of Human Hair for DNA
Chapter 18: Feather Examinations
Chapter 19: Glass Breakage Determinations
19A) Glass Examinations
Chapter 20: Textile Fiber Examinations
20A) Natural Fibers Examinations
20B) Man-made Fiber Examinations
20C) Fiber Comparisons
Chapter 21: Soil Examinations
21A) Identification of Minerals in Soil
Chapter 22: Microchemical testing – Inorganic Ions
Chapter 23: Building Materials
Chapter 24: Explosive Residue Examinations
Chapter 25: Food Condiment Examinations
Chapter 26: Plastic Film Examinations
Chapter 27: Microscopic examinations of Controlled Substances
Chapter 28: Semen Examinations
Application Experiments, Instrumental Microscopy:
Chapter 29: Micro-FTIR
Chapter 30: Microspectrophotometry
Chapter 31: Thermal Microscopy
Chapter 32: Scanning Electron Microscopy
Chapter 33: Case Study Scenario
Appendices
A) Optical properties for natural fibers
B) Optical properties for man-made fibers
C) Michel-Levy Chart
D) Dispersion Staining Graph
E) Circle template
Glossary of Microscopy Terms
Index
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