Become an Expert with our Animal Forensics Glossary

Animal Behaviorism: The study of traits common to an animal species, breed, or individual. This field includes observations, testing, and exploration of what an animal does and why it does so (due to genetics, breeding, instinct, training, environment, etc.)

Autopsy: An exterior and interior examination of a corpse to determine the time and cause of death.

Canine Olfactory Mucosa Region: The sensory cell region of a dog’s nose that receives a scent and transfers information about that scent to the dog’s brain.

Chromosomes: Pairs of compressed units of DNA; one half is inherited maternally and the other paternally. Chromosome patterns can help distinguish relationships between siblings and parents.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): A macromolecule found in all living cells that contains genetic identifying information.

DNA Fragment: A physical remnant from a living thing containing its DNA, such as hair, blood, saliva, feces, bone, hide, skin, fur, or urine.

Evidentiary Profile: The DNA profile of the physical fragment that has been found during an investigation and collected as evidence.

Forensic Entomology: The study of insects to determine legal concepts such as time and location of death.

Fur: The shorter hairs that insulate an animal.

Guard Hairs: The longer hairs that protect an animal’s outer coat; these are the hairs most easily shed and most often tested in criminal investigations because they offer the greatest amount of characteristics to be compared.

Known Reference Profile: The DNA profile of the physical fragment collected from a specimen or suspect, to be tested against the profile of the evidence sample.

Loci: The locations of STR segments in a DNA profile. Loci from evidentiary and known profile samples are compared to determine a match.

Luminol: A chemical fluid that is used to test for the presence of blood. When Luminol comes into contact with blood diluted up to 10 million times, the chemical reaction causes luminescence. Luminol can be sprayed over large surfaces and does not interfere with the integrity of the STRs needed for later DNA testing.

Microscopy: An investigative analytic technique that compares the microscopic physical characteristics of test samples, such as hair and fibers, to determine their structure, composition, and the similarity or difference between multiple samples.

Morphological Analysis: A method that studies vertebrate anatomy to discern the patterns, colors, measurements, gradients, and textures of animal pelts, feathers, bones, fur, hooves, scales, fins, claws, antlers, prints, wings, and complete or fragmented carcasses that identify the specimen as a member of a species or specific animal.

STRs (Short Tandem Repeats): Segments of DNA in varying lengths composed of repeating series of four nucleotide base units. The terms “Microsatellites,” “STR markers” and “genetic markers” also refer to STR segments.

Tactile Hairs: Utility hairs such as whiskers.

Ultrasound: A procedure that applies ultrasonic waves to image internal organs or structures. Ultrasounds can sometimes probe deeper than X-Rays can.

X-Ray: An electromagnetic radiation photograph of short wavelengths that can penetrate solids to reveal images of obscured objects. X-rays are commonly used for contraband and medical issue detection.