Tridico S
Victoria Police Forensic Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Forensic Sci Rev. 2005 Jan;17(1):17-28.
This article reviews the examination of animal hairs and their role in the forensic arena. The forensic examination of animal hair is a well-established discipline and has been so for two centuries. Examination is largely based on microscopy, which may enable the hair analyst to identify a hair as animal in origin, to characterize the hair to a particular species, and to conduct comparative examinations. Education and training underpin the ability of the hair analyst with the specialized knowledge and expertise required to proficiently conduct these examinations and give appropriate weight to the findings. This article will also discuss the effect two relative "newcomers" have exerted on the forensic examination of animal hair - (a) the transfer and persistence of animal hairs and (b) DNA profiling. Opinions regarding the transfer and persistence of animal hairs have been based on the data obtained from studies conducted on textile fibers because of the lack of data available for animal hairs. Preliminary studies conducted specifically on the transfer and persistence of animal hairs has shown that the results are comparable to the studies conducted on textile fibers. The progress in DNA profiling has seen this method being used with increasing frequency in the examination of animal hair. The results provide a degree of individualization that has not been possible with comparative microscopy. In conclusion, this review article will clearly demonstrate the role, value, and eclectic application of animal hair examination to forensic science.
本文回顾了动物毛发检验及其在法医学领域的作用。动物毛发的法医检验是一门成熟的学科，至今已有两个世纪。检验主要基于显微镜检查，这可能使毛发分析师能够识别毛发的动物来源，将毛发特征化为特定物种，并进行比较检验。教育和培训是毛发分析师具备专业知识和技能的基础，这些知识和技能是熟练进行这些检验并对检验结果给予适当权重所必需的。本文还将讨论两个相对较新的领域对动物毛发法医检验产生的影响——（a）动物毛发的转移和持久性以及（b）DNA分析。由于缺乏动物毛发的相关数据，关于动物毛发转移和持久性的观点一直基于对纺织纤维进行的研究所得数据。专门针对动物毛发转移和持久性进行的初步研究表明，结果与对纺织纤维进行的研究相当。DNA分析的进展使得该方法在动物毛发检验中的使用频率越来越高。其结果提供了一定程度的个体识别，这是比较显微镜检查无法做到的。总之，这篇综述文章将清楚地展示动物毛发检验在法医学中的作用、价值和广泛应用。
