Describe how forensics scientists use digital resources to store information and help determine if a weapon was used in multiple crimes. When analyzing a bullet, what do forensic scientists look for? How can a bullet be matched to the gun it was fired from?

If a tool mark is found at the scene, how would forensic scientists go about collecting, storing and analyzing it? Why can tool marks be difficult to recreate?

State 2-3 ways that medical examiners determine time of death. Explain the procedures and what information can be discovered in the process. How is Bill Bass’ Body Farm helpful in this research?

What are the three categories of data that forensic scientists collect during an autopsy? Invent a scenario where a forensic scientist is examining a corpse. Things to consider: What might they discover and how could this information contribute to an investigation?

To answer this question, researchers studied populations of the dusky salamander (desmognathus ochrophaeus) living on different mountain ranges in the southern appalachian mountains. the researchers tested the reproductive isolation of pairs of salamander populations by leaving one male and one female together and later checking the females for the presence of sperm. four mating combinations were tested for each pair of populations (a and b)—two within the same population (female a with male a and female b with male b) and two between populations (female a with male b and female b with male a). the proportion of successful matings for each mating combination was measured. for example, when all the matings of a particular combination were successful, the researchers gave it a value of 1; when none of the matings were successful, they gave it a value of 0. then the researchers calculated an index of reproductive isolation that ranged from 0 (no isolation) to 2 (full isolation). the reproductive isolation value for two populations is the sum of the proportion of successful matings of each type within populations (aa + bb) minus the sum of the proportion of successful matings of each type between populations (ab + ba). the table provides data for the geographic distances and reproductive isolation values for 27 pairs of dusky salamander populations.