Human Hair Analysis among Four Different Castes Having Potential Application in Forensic Investigation

Abstract

Hair is the most commonly found trace evidence in the crime cases. It assists in establishing a triangular relation between a crime scene, a victim and a criminal. Morphology of hair can be helpful in forensic investigations to distinguish hair from one race to another. In this context for the purpose of analysis, cuticle inner margin (distinct or not distinct), cuticle thickness and ovoid bodies (present or absent) were considered. In this paper, different castes were selected to analyze the structural similarity and differences from each other using compound microscope. The purpose of this study is to develop a data base analyzing the cuticle thickness, inner cuticle margin and ovoid bodies in human head hair in different races of India to narrow down forensic analysis in investigating the crime scene.