Forensic Sciences


Determination of Origin of species – A Somatoscopic Study of hair from Human and Animal origin

Article Number: CYD153080 Volume 01 | Issue 02 | October - 2018 ISSN: 2581-4273
11th Jun, 2018
13th Aug, 2018
15th Sep, 2018
05th Oct, 2018

Authors

Ankit Tripathi, Ranjeet K. Singh, Nirja Singh

Abstract

In forensic investigation hair is the most important trace evidence, which is commonly found on the scene of the crime. With increasing crime and knowledge of various evidence type and their investigation method being spread to even a common man (population) through the advent of internet and various documentary movies in the past 5 to 6 years. The animals and are aware of ins & outs of various conventional means of identification adherence the need for conventional means of investigation to relate the criminal with the crime scene has become an unavoidable concern for investigating officer. On such unconventional means of evidence to relate the crime scene with criminal, here can be used in this study we have tried established not only the most distinguished morphological features between humans and animals hair but also explored the possibility of creating a local database to refer in accordance with case of hair samples of certain animals from certain geographical region and are formed on the person of suspect, so that the suspect can be identified or the presence of the suspect on the crime scene from detailed examination of hair sample acquired. Keyword: Geographical region, Morphological feature, human hair animal hair, Suspect, Crime Scene.

Introduction

Hair evidence is generally encountered at a scene of crime which may include deposition of hair samples on a victim, suspect or nearby area. Since the inception of technique to DNA examination, hair evidence has also become an important Avant Garde to individually was used to show the opportunity of guilt, but it could not provide produce definite proof of identity. Now hair can be investigated for DNA, which can be utilized to analyze equally a victim and a criminal.

Human hair produces out of follicles situated in the skin. The part of a hair inside a follicle is the origin, the portion that is observable over the skin is called the shaft. Respectively hair is composed of three layers. The external layer, known as the cuticle, is a distinguished layer of covering scale like cells. The internal layer, the cortex, contains of extended cells that contain pigment. The cells of the medulla, the inside layer, are several sided and in rows. When component of hair is observed under a microscope, it is possible to analyze human from animal hair.

The cuticle cells of animal hairs are bigger, less regular in shape, and features of the species. The medulla is continuous and well defined, distinct human hair, in which regularly the core cannot be distinguished or is interrupted or fragmented. Medullary Index, in which the percentage of the diameter of the medulla and the diameter of the total shaft, can also be used to help differentiate between animal and human hair. For humans, medullary index is generally less than 0.33, for animals, it is usually 0.5 or greater. The best way to associate the hair samples besides under a comparison microscope. The forensic examiner can then aspect for a match between hairs in terms of color, length, diameter, nature of the medullas, and symbol of bleaching or coloring. In fact, then hair grows at a rate of around 1.3 centimeters per month (Conklin, Gardner and Shortelle, 145).

References

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Chauhan*, Amit, et al. “A Study on the Presence of Medulla Types of Hair among the Young Jaat Residents of Western Uttar Pradesh.” J Forensic Sci & Criminal Inves, 10 Sept. 2018.

Gardner, Barbara Conklin, et al. Encyclopedia of Forensic Science: a Compendium of Detective Fact and Fiction. Oryx, 2002.

Khan, Amna, et al. “Human Hair Analysis among Four Different Castes Having Potential Application in Forensic Investigation.” Journal of Forensic Research, 10 Jan. 2014.

MA*1, Larry Barksdale, and Jaclyn Humrich2. “Random Distribution of Cat/Dog Hair in Motor Vehicles.” J Forensic Sci & Criminal Inves, 9 Nov. 2017.

Negi1, Priyanka. “Comparison of Different Animal Species Hairs with Respect to Their Medullary Index for the Individual Identification and Comparison from the Animals of Local Village of Palam Vihar, Gurugram, Haryana.” International Journal of Recent Research and Applied Studies, 10 Dec. 2017.

S.V, *Kshirsagar, et al. “Comparative Study of Human and Animal Hair in Relation with Diameter and Medullary Index.” Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, July-Sept 2009; Vol. 2 No.3.

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How to cite this article?

APA StyleTripathi, A. et al. (2018). Determination of Origin of species – A Somatoscopic Study of hair from Human and Animal origin. Academic Journal of Forensic Sciences, 01(02), 06-11.
Chicago Style
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