Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

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Hello Lisa! I am doing a essay on pattern and impression evidence for college. One of the requirements is to email someone who works in this field. Why is pattern and impression very important in investigations? An overall description of your job

Asked by Lyubov Barbin over 7 years ago

I'm sorry but that's a very broad question. What kind of pattern and impression evidence are you talking about?

If I already have a degree in Chemistry, how would I go about becoming a forensic chemist?

Asked by Tori over 7 years ago

Just apply for it. Check the websites of your local city, state, county police agencies and see if they have a position posted and what the requirements are. You can also check www.aafs.org and www.theiai.org for national postings. Best of luck!

Can u plz tell me how to become a forensic scientist.....can i get a scolarship in your land

Asked by Litty over 7 years ago

Stay in school and take lots of science courses. Scholarships would be offered by different schools and/or organizations. What land are you in now?

My school is offering 2 community health service courses that are credited. Will these courses be any help with forensic science or forensic anthropology?

Asked by Crazykid over 7 years ago

I'm sorry but I don't know what a community health service course is, but I would think any information about the medical field would always be helpful.

A criminal stabbed to death two victims and then inflicted wounds upon themselves The killer's shirt was covered in blood. Is it possible to determine that one victims blood was on top of another persons blood? Can they tell who was stabbed 1st or 2

Asked by Chunky Monkey over 7 years ago

I"m sorry, I know I posted an answer to this question but apparently it disappeared into cyberspace. As far as I know, no, it wouldn't be possible. The DNA results would show a mixture so that you could say 'it could be a mix of these two people, meaning there's no alleles that could NOT have come from them' but you couldn't positively state that it is a mixture. And it wouldn't be possible to tell which came first as the sample is put in a liquid medium and mixed to analyze.

If I keep a lock of hair in a bottle and it's stored in a humid area, will the hair still disintegrade over time? Thank you!

Asked by :) over 7 years ago

If the bottle is sealed well, I don't think so. Hair is pretty tough.

Okay. Also, won’t my own skin cells like disturb her skin cells? Like over the course of 6 months? I have touching many things like in the bus and train handles and then touching my phone. Won’t the new germs like destroy her germs and dna as wll?

Asked by HELena over 7 years ago

As far as I know germs don’t ‘eat’ other germs. But they can’t live long by themselves so on an inanimate surface, they would die sooner rather than later.