IDENTIFICATION OF PRIMATE HAIR

• NCJ Number: 12752
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 109-112
• Author(s): S I ROSEN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT 25TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, LAS VEGAS, FEB 21, 1973

Annotation

RESULTS OF A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE HEAD HAIR OF MAN AND OVER 200 NONHUMAN PRIMATES REPRESENTING 25 GENERA AND 42 SPECIES.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT IN TERMS OF METRICAL FEATURES, THE HEAD HAIR OF MAN IS NOT PARTICULARLY UNIQUE COMPARED TO THAT OF OTHER PRIMATES. THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST IS ON UNSTABLE GROUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL FROM ONE OR A FEW HAIRS. EVEN THOUGH A SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUE SUCH AS NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS EXISTS, THERE IS NO COMPLETELY RELIABLE HAIR IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUE. THE MOST POTENTIALLY FRUITFUL APPROACH IS THE USE OF MICROANATOMICAL, MICROMETRICAL, AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL TECHNIQUES IN FORENSIC CASES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)