This glossary will show you about 25 terms that are likely present in the field of study that is known as forensic analysis.
Ballistics
noun
The science of projectiles and firearms.
Example: After doing the ballistics, Amanda was able to tell what was the weapon used for the crime.
en: Balistique
Biology
noun
The study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution.
Example: I've had biology classes for a few weeks, but I'm already thinking of giving up.
en: Biologie
Blood
noun
The red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body.
Example: For example, general disgust is shown for inner bodily substances when in the context of the external, these being; vomit, blood and saliva amongst others.
en: Sang
Chemical
noun
A compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially.
Example: Putman concurs that: much as we may define a weed as a plant in the wrong place, or a pollutant as a perfectly respectable chemical in the wrong place or in inappropriate concentration, so some animal pests too are only pests when in inappropriate numbers or in the wrong context.
en: Produit chimique
Contamination
noun
The action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning.
Example: The 'construction phase' or the footprint phase is the short term effects and will also include the high risk of accidental contamination.
en: Contamination
DNA
noun
A self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Example: Evidence for the theory is relatively strong, particularly the finding that mitochondria and chloroplasts have circular DNA similar in form to that of bacterial DNA, and that they contain prokaryotic type ribosomes.
en: ADN
Evidence
noun
The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Example: In the assessment of risk, Members shall take into account available scientific evidence, relevant process and production methods (...).
en: Preuve
Factor
noun
A circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome.
Example: This is a major advantage when land area is a limiting factor, and the Salers suckler herd work almost work as the 'break' for grazing land as well as supplying a source of farmyard manure as a source of natural fertilizer.
en: Facteur
Fingerprint
noun
An impression or mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip, especially as used for identifying individuals from the unique pattern of whorls and lines.
Example: It is unusual at a crime scene to find a fingerprint of high quality; however it is likely that samples of hair, blood or semen are found.
en: Empreinte digitale
Forensic
noun
Scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime.
en: Légal
Hydrochloric acid
noun
A strongly acidic solution of the gas hydrogen chloride in water.
Example: The mixture was then acidified with hydrochloric acid (4M) to PH1.
en: Acide hydrochlorique
Identification
noun
The action or process of identifying someone or something or the fact of being identified.
Example: There are several important reasons why reconstructing phylogenies play an important role in the study of evolution: Phylogeny is the basis for the identification and classification of organisms.
en: Identification
Jurisdiction
noun
The territory or sphere of activity over which the legal authority of a court or other institution extends.
Example: This in itself creates difficulties, in a practical context, it may be necessary to take legal advice from local lawyers to be certain that the act was not a crime in the jurisdiction during the period it occurred.
en: Juridiction
Laboratory
noun
A room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching, or for the manufacture of drugs or chemicals.
Example: Microsatellite DNA, short stretches of DNA comprised of 2-5 nucleotide segments, are unique because their mutation rates can be determined in a laboratory and do not have to be calibrated against the fossil record, allowing independent coalescence dates to be calculated to a date of 156 kya.
en: Laboratoire
Laypeople
noun
A person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject.
Example: That person doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about: they might be a laypeople.
en: Laïc
Microscope
noun
An optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as mineral samples or animal or plant cells, typically magnified several hundred times.
Example: For a travelling microscope a simple hinge is required.
en: Microscope
Photography
noun
The art or practice of taking and processing photographs.
Example: However, this is not the sole explanation for Chinese people's fondness of taking photography.
en: Photographie
Sample
noun
A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
Example: The sample also contained many different varieties of pollen one being from the hop hornbeam tree, which grows in a warm environment.
en: Échantillon
Science
noun
The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
Example: Decision making process should preferably be made on basis of verified, objective information but it seems to be quite rare as science often fails to provide unambiguous proofs.
en: Science
Serology
noun
The scientific study or diagnostic examination of blood serum, especially with regard to the response of the immune system to pathogens or introduced substances.
Example: A friend of my friend seems to have a strange obsession with serology, though we don't seem to know why.
en: Sérologie
Spectrometer
noun
An apparatus used for recording and measuring spectra, especially as a method of analysis.
Example: As noise is an issue with the MQMAS experiment a modern receiver on the spectrometer would reduce this and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio.
en: Spectromètre
Sulfuric acid
noun
A strong acid made by oxidizing solutions of sulfur dioxide and used in large quantities as an industrial and laboratory reagent. The concentrated form is an oily, dense, corrosive liquid.
Example: During the distillation process, the heat of reaction of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide is great enough to cause loss of volatile ammonia.
en: Acide sulfurique
Tissue
noun
Any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of specialized cells and their products.
Example: Glucagon also binds to receptors in the adipose tissue activating the lipase which mobilizes fatty acids and glycerol.
en: Tissu
Toxicology
noun
The branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons.
Example: This brings into question the toxicology of polyphenols at high doses.
en: Toxicologie
Toxin
noun
An antigenic poison or venom of plant or animal origin, especially one produced by or derived from microorganisms and causing disease when present at low concentration in the body.
Example: If botulinum bacteria survive and grow inside a sealed jar, they can produce a deadly toxin.