BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY

FORENSIC GENERAL
COURSE COURSE PRE- CREDIT 5
FOR 223 CHEMISTRY & CHEMISTRY
CODE TITLE REQUISITES UNITS
TOXICOLOGY (ORGANIC)
COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course deals with the application of chemistry in the identification of physical evidence. It includes collection,
preservation, examination and study of blood, semen and other body fluids for DNA, gunpowder and explosives, hair
and textile fibers, chemical aspects of document examinations, problems of glass fragments and glass fractures, moulage,
metallurgy, petrography as applied to crime investigation, study of nature, physiological action, chemical and physical
properties, dosage , treatment and detection of poisons.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the students should be able to demonstrate an ample understanding in the core areas of
forensic chemistry and toxicology; analyze, organize, and communicate ideas and information; implement analytical
reasoning and critical thinking in problem solving as applied to scientific problem; collect data using common laboratory
equipment, contemporary instru¬¬mentation and scientific problem; recognize problems involving chemistry and solve
using current disciplinary and interdisciplinary principles; act in accordance to professional, social and ethical
responsibility; demonstrate skill in collecting, packing and preserving biological evidences; explain the integral part of
chemistry in addressing the social, economic and environmental problem; interpret relevant scientific data and make
judgment that include reflection on relevant scientific and ethical issues; discuss articulately the latest development in
the specific field of practice; effectively and independently work in multidisciplinary groups; and appreciate the role of
forensic chemistry in the Philippine society.

Module Title HAIR AND FIBER

Module No. 6

Total Study Hours Lecture: 3 hours / Laboratory: 6 hours

Module Writer Julieta B. Montecillo

Julieta B. Montecillo
Module and Learning
Facilitator/Contacts CP: 09171305366 / email: jbmontecillo@gmail.com

Module Introduction
This module covers the two evidence types which are hair and fiber. For each
evidence type, emphasis is given to an overview of the methods that are used to
characterize the materials concerned. Students will spend 3 hours on online lecture
to complete this module. Various resources/materials will be utilized to facilitate
learning such as online lectures, handouts, ppt presentations, videos, pdfs, problem
 set. To assess the student progress and learnings, online quiz and examination, end-
chapter problem set, homework, and experiment data/analysis will be utilized.

At the end of this module, the students are expected to be able to:
• Exhibit the proper way of collecting and packing of hair and textile fiber.
Module Learning Outcomes • Characterize and examine the human hair and textile fiber.
• Differentiate the human hair from animal hair.
• List the common types of material that are encountered as trace physical
evidence that is recovered from incident scenes.
I. Morphology of Hair
II. Human Hairs
Content III. Animal Hairs
IV. Identification and Comparison of Hair
V. Collection and Preservation of Hair Evidence
VI. Identification and Examination of Textile Fiber
Moodle activity, video lesson, interactive discussion via Google meet, virtual
Teaching and Learning Activities
laboratory, online simulation.

Online and written examinations (includes short quizzes), homework

Assessment Methods (individual/group), end-chapter problem sets (essay), recitation, experiment
data/analysis, case study

Dascil-Canete, Arlyn M. Essentials of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology.

Wiseman’s Book Trading 2010
Jackson, Andrew R.W. Jackson, Julie M. Forensic Science, 3rd ed. Pearson 2011
Newton, David E. The New Chemistry: Forensic Chemistry. Infobase Publishing
2007
Philippine National Police, SOP: Conduct of Crime Scene Investigation ODIDM –
2011 -008
Saferstein, Richard. Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 12th ed.
References / Readings Pearson 2017
Urbano, Alexander DA. Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology (Lecture Guide and
Laboratory Manual), 1st ed. Wiseman’s Book Trading 2008
http://ppsc.gov.ph/2015-03-27-03-54-36/2015-04-03-00-28-57
http://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/images/pdf_upload/pjs2018/1stQtr/
forensic_science_in_the_prosecution_of_illegal_drugs_cases.pdf
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/images/Manuals_and_Guides/DIDM/Field-Manual-on-
Investigation-of-Crimes-of-Violence-and-other-Crimes.pdf

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Module 6: HAIR AND FIBER

Morphology of Hair
Hair is encountered as physical evidence in a wide variety of crimes. A review of the forensic aspects of hair
examination must start with the observation that it is often difficult to individualize a human hair to a single head or
body. If a hair is forcibly removed in such a way to leave some blood or skin with the root, then DNA typing can be
performed. There are also some new techniques which allow DNA typing to be performed without a root, if an ample
number of hairs are found.
In the absence of a root with skin or blood, or a sufficient sample of hairs, color and structure (morphology) is
the most characteristic forensic feature of a hair. If hair is properly collected at a crime scene and accompanied by an
adequate number of control hairs, it can provide strong corroborative evidence for placing individual at a crime site.
Hairs can also give assistance by giving clues as to how a hair came to be removed from its source. It is quite easy to
distinguish between hairs that have been forcibly removed, cut, or have simply fallen out.

Hair is an appendage of the skin that grows out of a structure known as the hair follicle. The length of a hair
extends from the root embedded in the follicle, continues into a shaft, and terminates at the tip. The shaft itself, which
is composed of cuticle, cortex, and medulla, is subjected to the most intense examination by the forensic scientist. Most
hair observations, with the exception of the cuticle, can be performed with a simple microscope. Simply place a hair on
a slide with a drop of water, then top with cover slip. Now, with some careful adjustments to the light source and focus,
excellent properties of the medulla, cortex, and condition of the hair may be determined.

Cuticle Characteristics

• It is the outside covering of the hair.

• Responsible for hair’s resistance to chemical decomposition.
• Retain structural features of the hair over a long period of time
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 • Contains cortex within the protective layer
The cortex is the interior of the hair which is composed of spindle-shaped cortical cells aligned
in a regular array, parallel to the length of the hair. It has its forensic importance since it is embedded with
pigment granule that imparts color to hair. It is the color, shape, and distribution of these granules that
provide points of comparison between the hairs of different samples.
• Asian hair has more cuticles than Caucasian hair.
• Asian hair has thicker cuticles than Caucasian hair.
• The interval of cuticles is narrower for Asian hair than for Caucasian hair.
• The surface inclination of Asian hair is steeper than that of Caucasian hair.

Examination of Cuticle
1. Molding - hair molds can be made by placing a layer of clear fingernail polish or soft vinyl on a slide,
then laying a hair on top of the polish. Once the polish dries, the hair is removed leaving a mold of the
cuticle to be observed under a microscope.
2. Electron Scanning Microscope – the scale of most animal hair can best be described as having the
appearance of shingles on a roof. The different scale patterns formed on animal hairs are important
features for species identification.

SCALE PATTERNS OF HAIRS AS VIEWED BY AN ELECTRON SCANNING MICROSCOPE

In the hair mold pictures to the left the difference can be seen
between the cuticles of dog and human hair. The left strand is
dog hair and the right is human.

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HUMAN HAIRS

Head Hair Head Hair (Dye) Head Hair (with Gel)

Moustache hair (with Wax) Arm Hair Pubic Hair

ANIMAL HAIRS

Pig Cow Squirrel Mouse

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 Dog Cat Deer Rabbit

Medulla Characteristics

• Medulla is a collection of cells which appear as a canal running through the center of the hair.
• The width of the hair taken up by the medulla is estimated by medullary index, expressed in fraction.
• Medullae may be classified as continuous, interrupted, fragmented, or absent.
• Human head hairs generally exhibit no medullae, or have fragmented ones except for Mongoloid race
which have continuous medulla.
• Most animals have medullae that are either continuous or interrupted.
• Appear nearly cylindrical

Hair:
Index: 0 1/10 1/3 1/2 9/10

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 HAIR MEDULLA AS THEY MAY APPEAR UNDER A MICROSCOPE

Horse Cow Squirrel Mouse

Dog Cat Human Deer Rabbit

Identification and Comparison of Hair

Upon finding hair at a crime scene, the first thing to be done is an examination in a crime laboratory to establish
whether the hair originates from a human or animal. If human, the hair retrieved at the crime scene should be compared
with hair from suspects and victims. Although the distinction of animal hair from human hair can normally be
accomplished with little difficulty, the problem of human hair comparisons is one that must be undertaken with extreme
caution. Hairs have a tendency to exhibit variable characteristics, not only from one person to another, but also within
a single individual.
A careful microscopic examination of hair will reveal morphological features that can distinguish human hair
from that of animal hair. Before such a conclusion is reached, the examiner must have access to a comprehensive
collection of controls. Scale structure, medullary index, and medullary shape are features that are particularly important
in matching hair samples.
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 The most common request made of the laboratory when hair is used as forensic evidence is to determine
whether or not hair recovered at the crime scene is of the same origin as hair removed from a suspect. In most cases,
such a comparison relates to hair obtained from the scalp or pubic area. In the absence of skin and blood on the root, or
enough hairs to perform DNA testing, this distinction can only be made with some degree of probability.
In comparing hairs, it is particularly important to match the color, length, and diameter of the hairs. Other
important features are the presence or absence of a medulla and the distribution, shape, and color intensity of the
pigment granules present in the cortex. A microscopic examination may also be able to predict if a hair has been dyed
or bleached. If there has been a growth of hair since a hair was bleached or dyed, then is possible to estimate the time
passed since the coloring. Hair is known to grow at a rate approximately one centimeter (1 cm) per month. A dyed or
colored hair is usually colored throughout the cortex. Bleaching however, completely removes the pigment from hair
which gives it a yellowish tint. In contrast, naturally-colored hair usually contains granules with a texture similar to
picture colored by a crayon. A hair that has been dyed or artificially colored, displays a smooth uniform color similar to
tinted glass. The one exception is grey hair, which appears clear due to complete absence of pigment.
In the absence of DNA typing, it is estimated that if one human head hair found at the scene of a crime is similar
to a representative hair from a suspect’s head, the odds against it originating from another person are about 4500 to 1.
The odds against it originating from two different individuals are about 800 to 1. Because Negroid and Mongoloid hairs
exhibit less variation in many of their characteristics, it is expected that these odds are somewhat less for persons of
these racial origins.
Hair naturally falling off the body will show a bulbous-shaped root, free of adhering tissue. However, the absence
of sheath cells cannot always be relied upon for correctly judging whether or not hair has been forcibly pulled from a
body. An important consideration is how quickly the hair is pulled out of the head. Hairs pulled quickly from the head
are much more likely to have blood or skin as compared to hairs which have been removed slowly.

Fallen out Fallen Out Cut Torn Torn Pulled Out Pulled Out

With the exception of mithocondrial DNA, it is not possible to extract DNA from a single hair without blood or
skin attached. Such a sample is referred to as a follicular tag. This would make the identification of a person by their hair
almost exact. The present process is very sensitive, contamination and mishandling of the hair possess a great threat.

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Collection and Preservation of Hair Evidence

• Questioned hairs must be accompanied by an adequate number of standard/reference samples from the
victim of the crime and from individual suspects.
• Questioned and standard/reference hairs must come from the same area of the body.
• The collection of 50-full-length hairs from all areas of the scalp will normally ensure a representative
sampling of head hair.
• A minimum of two dozen full-length pubic hairs should be collected.
• In rape cases, care must first be taken to comb the pubic area with a clean comb to remove all loose foreign
hair present before the victim is sampled for standard/reference sample.
• The comb should be packaged in a separate envelope.
• The hairs should be placed in a folded paper or in a white mailing envelope, but the corners of the envelope
should be sealed with scotch tape.
• Fragmentary hairs or underdeveloped hairs are not suitable for examination.

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TEXTILE FIBERS

Textile fibers are examined in a similar fashion as hairs. Although fibers do not exhibit the morphology of hairs,
they have a range of individual characteristics. Industry has produced a wide variety of natural and synthetic materials.
This helps in identifying fibers, for it is likely that matching fibers have the same origin.
Even in the absence of control fibers to which the sample can be compared, a suspect fiber has much to offer.
Examining a lone fiber can yield information such as color and possible origin. An experienced observer can immediately
identify the type of fiber (synthetic or natural) and a number of possible origins. Below are a few examples of fibers.
These are only examples of different types of fibers and are in no way conclusive of the characteristics of each sub-group
of fibers.

Clothes Fibers Carpet Fibers

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 Cotton Fibers Synthetic Fibers

Identification and Examination of Textile Fibers

Although different types of fibers may come in virtually any color, each specific class of fibers exhibits its own
characteristics. Natural fibers, such as cotton, exhibit a more random texture when examined closely.

Cotton (Magnification: x100) Cotton (Magnification: x400)

There exist a wide range of synthetic fibers, each class exhibiting its own particular characteristics. Under close
examination and comparison to natural fivers, synthetic fibers exhibit a uniforn, un-natural texture.

Polyester x 100 Polyester x 400 Cotton x 100

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1. Burning or Ignition Test - it is a preliminary macroscopic examination. A test that determines whether fiber
is mineral, animal, or vegetable fiber.
• For animal fibers, fiber smoulder or burn slowly and give odor like that of
burning feather. When removed from the flame they do not continue to burn
readily and a charred bead remains at the end of the fiber. Fumes turn red
litmus paper.
• Wool – odor is strong, disagreeable; fumes turn lead acetate paper black or
brown.
• Silk – odor is not so pungent, fumes have no effect on lead acetate paper.
• For vegetable fibers, fibers burn rapidly with a flame and give off but little
smoke or fumes. Charred bead not present when fiber is removed from the
flame. Fumes turn blue litmus red.

2. Fluorescent Test – frequently used to determine the general group to which a fiber belongs. It is not reliable
for positive identification of fibers. In general, the vegetable fibers exhibit a yellow fluorescence in ultra-
violet light, whereas the animal fibers show bluish fluorescence.

3. Microscopic Examination – in general, it is the most reliable and best means of identifying fiber. The fiber
is placed on a glass slide, teased and covered.

Flourescence of Some Common Fibers

Material Color Under Ultraviolet Light Daylight Color

1. Unbleached wool Brilliant light blue Light yellow
2. Bleached wool Bluish-white to bluish yellow White
3. Bleached cotton Light-yellow White
4. Mercerized cotton Light-yellow White
5. Bleached linen Brilliant yellowish-white White
6. Cuprate silk Reddish white with blue-violet Brownish-white
shadow
7. Viscose silk Sulfur yellow with blue shadow Brownish-white
8. Nitro silk Brilliant flesh yellow Yellowish
9. Acetate silk Bluish violet White
10. Natural silk Very bright light blue, much brighter
White
and whiter than acetate silk

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 Characteristics of Common Textile Fibers
Material Characteristics
Unicellular filament, flat, ribbon-like, twisted spirally to right or left on its
axis, central canal or lumen broad uniform in diameter; cell wall thick,
1. Cotton
covered by a think, no structure, waxy cuticle. Fiber tapers gradually to a
blunt or rounded point at one end.
Straight, cylindrical, with occasional twists; evenly lustrous, smooth
2. Mercerized Cotton except for occasional transverse folds or wrinkles. Cuticle mostly lacking
lumen irregular in width.
Multi-cellular filament, straight and cylindrical, not twisted and flattened,
tapering to a sharp point. Cell wall thick, the lumen appearing as a narrow
3. Linen dark line in the center of the fiber. Filament marked by transverse lines at
intervals causing the fiber to appear jointed, resembling a bamboo. Cross
lines frequently interest appearing like the letter X.
Smooth, cylindrical, lustrous threads, usually single but often double, the
4. Cultivated Silk twin-filaments held together by an envelope of gum. More or less
transparent, without definite structure.
Similar to cultivated silk but broader and less regular in outline. Marked
5. Wild Silk by very fine longitudinal striations with infrequent diagonal cross-
markings.
Cylindrical, lustrous, appearing like a glass rod. Microchemical reactions,
6. Artificial Silk dissolved rapidly by half saturated chromic acid; not colored by Millon’s
reagent as in case of true silk.
Easily distinguished by presence of flattened over lapping epidermal scales
not found on silk or any of the vegetable fibers. Fiber many-celled,
7. Wool
cylindrical; shaft composed of three layers; central core or medulla
(seldom see), cortex and scaly cuticle.

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4. Chemical Analysis of Fibers – if the sample submitted for analysis is fairly large, such as a piece of cloth or
a number of large threads, it is suggested that a chemical analysis be made to supplement the microscopic
examination and confirm the results obtained from that procedure.
a. Staining Test - the fiber is stained with picric acid, Millon’s reagent, stannic chloride or iodine
solution.
Test Result
Picric acid + Silk Dyed
Picric acid + Wool Dyed
Picric acid + Cellulosic fibers Unchanged
Millon’s reagent + Silk Brown
Millon’s reagent + Wool Brown
Millon’s Reagent + Cellulosic Reagent No reaction
Stannic chloride + Cellulose Black

b. Dissolution Test - if the fiber is white or light colored it is treated with 10% NaOH, 5% H 2C2O4,
half saturated H2C2O4, concentrated H2SO4, concentrated and dilute NH4OH, and concentrated
HNO3. If dyed, the fiber is first decolorized by boiling in either 1% HCL.

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