Ask a Forensic Scientist anything

989 Questions

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Does being a forensic scientist allow time to have a family of your own?

Asked by Sophie over 5 years ago

Yes, of course! You often have to be a little flexible in your schedule, but it's no more a problem than in any other job.

570 Votes

if a person licks their fingers in order to aid them in counting money, counts the money and hands ti to another individual who places that money in their bra. Can there be saliva dna transfer to the breast?

Asked by angie over 6 years ago

I suppose that’s theoretically possible, but I wouldn’t think it likely. The saliva would sink into the paper of the money quickly, and then when swabbing the person’s skin you’d have to happen on the exact spot where that tiny bit of saliva transferred to.

I hope that helps!

570 Votes

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

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Where you ever shocked by a crime scene?

Asked by Denise_ot5 over 6 years ago

They’re all shocking, in their way, But there hasn’t been one in particular that bowled me over.

569 Votes

Oh, also how can you tell if someone makes a new account?

Asked by Sam over 5 years ago

I don’t know.

569 Votes

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How long will latent prints last when ninhydrin is used?

Asked by Krissy about 6 years ago

I'm not sure what you mean: a) how long after a print is left will ninhydrin still detect it, in which case I can say from my own experiment that there's little rhyme or reason to this, sometimes older prints develop better than newer ones or vice versa, or b) how long does a print developed with ninhydrin last, and the answer to that is that ninhydrin is a dark purple dye, so it is permanent, though it will continue to develop so that the entire page may eventually turn purple so we use a fixative chemical on the now-visible print so that will stop the ninhydrin from darkening the paper further. I hope that helps!

568 Votes

What is the education needed? The skills needed? The experience needed?

Asked by JaidenKBCL about 6 years ago

That depends entirely on where you want to work and what you want to do. If you want to do DNA analysis and testify in court about it, you may need a PhD in genetics. If you want to work at crime scenes bagging and tagging evidence, you may need only a high school diploma, with added hireability for advanced degrees. The only way to know is to check job opening notices or call the agencies and ask. Best of luck to you.

567 Votes

Is your average criminal usually as dull as the media makes them out to me. Like multiple offenders and low level gangsters.

Asked by 782346 almost 7 years ago

I may not be the best to ask since I'm not really on the front lines, I come in after the action is over, but in my opinion, yes. You don't get criminal masterminds in real life.

566 Votes