Ask a Forensic Scientist anything

981 Questions

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

If ejaculate was wiped off a bathroom floor with a sock, and that bathroom was used by other people for showering (humidity/wet floor) and toilet use (bare feet), would the semen still be picked up? Would results be reliable?

Asked by Shahada about 10 years ago

As far as I know, 1) possibly and 2) yes. Since the area hasn't been specifically and thoroughly cleaned, yes it could still be picked up. And the DNA results should either be reliable or you wouldn't get any results at all. You wouldn't get results that look like someone else's DNA.

887 Votes

I'm 20 years old and studying physics.I now realize that my real passion is forensic science. Would it be possible for me to take a turn and pursue that with a master's degree? What suggestions can you make that will help me pursue forensics?

Asked by Lito about 10 years ago

Any science major is a good thing. The requirements for each lab vary, so if you have a particular location in which you wish to work, you might call all your potential employers and ask what the job requirements are. Then you can decide whether a science degree, a forensic science degree, a masters or a PhD would be best. Also check salaries and decide whether they are sufficient, and be prepared for a lot of competition.

927 Votes

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!

If a victim was hit by someone wearing a ring could the letters on the ring leave behind a mark in the bone? (A legible one)

Asked by Jay A about 10 years ago

You'd really have to ask a pathologist or osteopath but I would very much doubt it--even at points where the bone is close to the skin (like the back of the hand) the skin would still provide too much cushioning. It would leave a bruise in the shape of the ring but probably not clear enough to be legible.

789 Votes

Would you often go home smelling like a cadaver? And health-wise, is a morgue extremely STERILE, or is it like a hospital i.e. just a cesspool of germs waiting to infect?

Asked by Jeremy about 10 years ago

I'm sure I did. I actually don't have a good sense of smell, so it probably did get into my clothes and hair more than I realized. You keep smelling it yourself because it gets stuck on your nose hairs (according to popular wisdom) so a whiff comes back to you for a few hours afterward.

ME and Coroner's autopsy rooms are very clean, but that is not the same as being sterile. Except for items used to collect samples for DNA analysis, sterility is not really such a factor--you can't infect the patient. They do take steps to keep from infecting the staff, of course. No food or drinks in the autopsy room, using 'clean' pens and 'dirty' pens, gloves and aprons. I've never heard of anyone catching any loathsome diseases from working there.

806 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Zookeeper and Animal Trainer

Which cuddly-seeming animals are actually dangerous to be around?

Programmer

Why are most developers socially withdrawn?

Help Desk Technician

Do the stats actually back up the "Mac's never get viruses and crash way less than PCs" thing?

If a glass door is slammed what side does the glass fall on

Asked by Dave about 10 years ago

I have no idea. If a piece of glass is shot or hit with something, most of the glass should move in the direction of the force with some flying back toward the source. But I would think the entire piece is vibrating with a slammed door, so I really have no idea.

744 Votes

Do you think the so-called CSI effect has changed the way evidence is collected and the lab tests that are done?

Asked by Marcus about 10 years ago

Sorry--I answered this one earlier, I don't know why it didn't post. Anyway, I don't think it has changed anything about how we do things (assuming everyone was doing them properly in the first place). All it has done is increase the amount of paperwork that comes along with doing them. Which is a tedious thing, but not a bad thing.

828 Votes

Is there a field or duty/job where a forensic scientist collects evidence from a crime scene, helps detectives at the crime scene while also doing the lab work for processing DNA and other evidence as well as reconstruction of crime scenes?

Asked by Jared almost 10 years ago

Sure, mine. Well, not DNA--I believe DNA is done by specialists who are kept busy enough that they don't have other duties. If your lab doesn't have enough personnel or casework for DNA then it would be sent to another lab. But otherwise, how general or specialized your casework is depends on the size of the agency/lab. If it's small, you do everything. If you have lots of personnel, they can specialize.

776 Votes

Showing 64 - 70

Show All

879 More Answers by Forensic Scientist

Last 7

7 8 9 10 11 12

...

Next 7 Answers

Forensic Scientist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If ejaculate was wiped off a bathroom floor with a sock, and that bathroom was used by other people for showering (humidity/wet floor) and toilet use (bare feet), would the semen still be picked up? Would results be reliable?

I'm 20 years old and studying physics.I now realize that my real passion is forensic science. Would it be possible for me to take a turn and pursue that with a master's degree? What suggestions can you make that will help me pursue forensics?

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

If a victim was hit by someone wearing a ring could the letters on the ring leave behind a mark in the bone? (A legible one)

Would you often go home smelling like a cadaver? And health-wise, is a morgue extremely STERILE, or is it like a hospital i.e. just a cesspool of germs waiting to infect?

Also on Jobstr...

If a glass door is slammed what side does the glass fall on

Do you think the so-called CSI effect has changed the way evidence is collected and the lab tests that are done?

Is there a field or duty/job where a forensic scientist collects evidence from a crime scene, helps detectives at the crime scene while also doing the lab work for processing DNA and other evidence as well as reconstruction of crime scenes?

Forensic Scientist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If ejaculate was wiped off a bathroom floor with a sock, and that bathroom was used by other people for showering (humidity/wet floor) and toilet use (bare feet), would the semen still be picked up? Would results be reliable?

I'm 20 years old and studying physics.I now realize that my real passion is forensic science. Would it be possible for me to take a turn and pursue that with a master's degree? What suggestions can you make that will help me pursue forensics?

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

If a victim was hit by someone wearing a ring could the letters on the ring leave behind a mark in the bone? (A legible one)

Would you often go home smelling like a cadaver? And health-wise, is a morgue extremely STERILE, or is it like a hospital i.e. just a cesspool of germs waiting to infect?

Also on Jobstr...

If a glass door is slammed what side does the glass fall on

Do you think the so-called CSI effect has changed the way evidence is collected and the lab tests that are done?

Is there a field or duty/job where a forensic scientist collects evidence from a crime scene, helps detectives at the crime scene while also doing the lab work for processing DNA and other evidence as well as reconstruction of crime scenes?

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register