Forensic Science uses many testing methods that prove guilt of an accused individual. DNA evidence can place someone at a crime scene or prove that he is the father of a specific baby. Paternity tests are used routinely as preparation for collecting child support. It can prove statutory rape as well. All it takes is blood, hair samples or cells collected from inside the cheek of a suspect.

Hair follicle tests can show evidence of drug use that occurred up to a year prior to the test. There is a new banding theory that shows if the individual the hair belonged to was deceased at the time the hair was left. For example, hair from a body in the trunk of a car can prove that there was a deceased person in that trunk.

For that test, the root, or hair follicle, must be present. Other tests are conclusive when performed on hair that was cut off. There is no specific amount of hair required. A single strand can be tested.

Fingerprints are specific to each individual. For police purposes, a certain number of matching points are required to qualify the match as conclusive. Although fingerprints can prove someone was in a house or car, there is no way to tell how long ago he or she was there.

A medical examiner, also called the coroner, can tell when a person died by body temperature. If rigor mortis has set in, that is another indication. This determination can only give a time period within a two to four hour window. The presence of insects in the corpse are another indication of when the death occurred. If they have had sufficient time to lay eggs, that is another indication.

Different types of knife blades cut in a certain pattern. Bullets can be identified as having been shot from a specific kind of gun. Gunshot residue on a suspects hands indicate he or she held and fired a gun recently. If blood is spilled on tile, carpeting, walls or many other surfaces, it will show up under a specific light. It does not dissipate over time. It will show up a week after the crime or a decade. Many determinations can be made by forensic science.

Are you a ballistics expert in today’s world? Are you a gunshot residue expert who knows it all? Well, we have some things you may not know!