Fingerprinting: A Journey From J-N
Especially for you, a J-N guide to fingerprinting … and more.
J.
JFI – Journal of Forensic Identification.
JFS – Journal of Forensic Sciences.
Joint – Hinged area where two bones are joined together.
K.
Keratinocyte – The major cell found in the epidermis.
Keratins – Highly insoluble fibrous proteins found in skin-related structures such as hair, wool, hooves and horns, claws, beaks, and even feathers.
L.
Latent Print – Friction ridge detail (fingerprint) that is not readily seen by the naked eye.
Law of Biological Uniqueness– Scientific Law stating that all items in nature are unique.
Leuco Rhodamine 6G – Reagent that reacts with the heme moiety of the hemoglobin of red cells in blood. It’s used to enhance and visualize fingerprints left in blood.
Leucocrystal Violet – A colorless form of gentian violet used to stain blood residue on both porous and nonporous items.
Lift– An adhesive or other vehicle used to transfer a friction ridge imprint (a fingerprint) from a surface.
Lights Out – Computer process where the AFIS computer automatically obtains friction skin features, searches the AFIS system, and presents an identification or exclusion based on a predermined score. No human is involved in this process.
Liquid Nitrogen – In its liquid state (-195 degree C), liquid nitrogen is ideal for the separation of adhesive surfaces.
Liqui-drox – A fluorescent yellow solution used to develop prints on both sides of dark-colored adhesive tapes.
Locard’s Principle of Exchange – Edmond Locard’s Principle of Exchange states that when any two objects come into contact, there is always transference of material from each object onto the other. (People entering a crime scene both leave and take away evidence, in some form).
Loupe – A small magnifying glass used in the identification and comparison of fingerprints.
Luminol – Chemical that glows with a bluish tint when it comes into contact with blood. it can detect blood at 1 part per million. It’s so sensitive, in fact, that one drop of blood within a container of 999,999 drops of water, will cause luminol to glow.
M.
MC’s – Major Case Prints.
MMD – Multimetal Deposition, a two step process using a colloidal gold and a physical developer solution to enhance latent prints.
5-MTN – Methylthioninhydrin, a reagent that reacts with amino acids to develop prints on porous items.
Medial Interphalangeal Flexion Crease – The middle crease on a finger.
Metacarpo-phalangeal Crease – Creases where the fingers meet the palm.
Microburst Method – Developed by the FBI, this method of developing prints is designed to expose a nonporous item to a large amount of Cyanoacrylate (Superglue) fumes for a small amount of time. The Superglue is positioned into a chamber heated to temperatures above 300 degrees. The item to be printed is then placed in the chamber for 30-45 seconds.
Minutiae – Small details.
Molybdenum Disulfide – Chemical used to prepare Small Particle Reagent (SPR). SPR is a means to develop latent fingermarks on wet, non-porous surfaces such as glass, plastic, metals and even the sticky sides of tape.
N.
NCFS – National Commission on Forensic Science.
NCIC – National Crime Information Center. To learn more about NCIC, click here.
NFB – National Fingerprint Board of England and Wales.
NV – Abbreviation for “No Value,” meaning a print has no value for identification purposes.
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