News article involving forensic science

Forensic science used in investigation of rape case

This article from the New York Times tells of the investigation of the murder of Ms. Meredith Kercher.

Four years ago, Ms. Amanda Knox, 24, and her Italian boyfriend, Mr. Raffaele Sollecito, were accused of murdering Ms. Kercher during a orgy. Both the accused were found guilty, and they got different jail terms: Ms. Knox got 26 years, Mr. Sollecito got 25. They were convicted two years ago, in December.

The two were convicted in accordance to a 427-page report made by the jury, which included telephone printouts, computer logs and flourescent bloodstain-revealing chemicals.

Forensic investigations also revealed that there was another man present during the orgy, a 24-year-old called Rudy Guede. He was pulled into the picture after a bloody handprint was found in Ms. Kercher's room and his DNA was found on her body and on objects belonging to her. He was originally sentenced to 30 years, but was reduced to 16 years on appeal.


My reflections and views

This article shows how forensic science can help the police in tracking perpetrators, by using such evidence like bloodstains, fingerprints, telephone logs, etc.

Fingerprints assignment

According to theory, the most common type of fingerprint is the loop, and the least common is the arch.

Below is a 3-D pie chart I created using the data from the science wiki. It showcases how many of each type of fingerprint there are in our class. Enjoy!

In conclusion, it is true that the most common type of fingerprint is the loop, and the least common is the arch.

The case of the middle aged woman

According to the case, the woman is middle-aged, and a driver's licence belonging to her has been discovered. It indicates that she was born in the year 1940.

Assuming the year of her death to be 2011,

2011 - 1940 = 71

She was 71 when she died.

71 - 30 = 41
41* 0.06 = 2. 46 cm

Original height using tibia:

(33.5 * 2. 352) + 74. 775
= 153. 567 cm

Present height:

153. 567 - 2. 46 = 151. 107 cm

PHI - the golden ratio

The golden ratio, or phi, is a number that can work magic in our daily lives.

When rounded off to three decimal places, 1. 618, it can dtermine whether you look attractive or like a hideous monster. This ratio is determined by measuring one's body height from the foot to the navel, and then from the navel to the head. If the ratio between these two is about 1. 618, one is considered to be rather attractive. Unfortunately, that is not the case for me, as mine is about 1. 309... FAIL. Haha!

Anyway, this number is considered to be one of the most beautiful and perfect numbers in existence. A perfect example of this number in action is demonstrated in Leonardo da Vinci's the Virtruvian Man, an anatomically accurate diagram of the human body.

Skeleton measurements

This is the third part of the graded assignments, measuring a skeleton and myself, and finding my theoretical hight as well as the skeleton's.

Below are some graphs indicating my measurements.

If there are any discrepancies, this may be due to the parallax error.

Our measurements may be accurate, but they are not that precise (all the measurements here are rounded off to one decimal place.)

Avatar making

Picture of myself:

Picture of avatar:

Description of myself: Moderate height (156 cm), round hairstyle, fairly plump, wears blue glasses, has small mole on right cheek






Picture of Sarah (my cousin)

Picture of her avatar:

Description of her: small (she's 7), quite thin, has braided hair, large dark eyes, thin eyebrows, small nose and mouth