Forensic Evidence: Hair and Fibres

Forensic techniques are increasingly common not just in police work but also in everyday life. Forensics can be used to prove paternity cases, discover how our forefathers lived and died, prove which inventor or author thought of an idea first, show how old buildings used to look, and so forth. This series examines the latest techniques used in the forensics field to demonstrate how our lives have been transformed by this new science.

How these are detected and identified, including natural and artifical fibers, clothes, carpets, sheets etc. Hairs can provide DNA samples, but different species can also be identified. From sheets and blankets to automobile seat covers, the origin of any type of fiber can be traced and can be used to prove that an individual was present at a crime scene.