Further Evaluation of Probabilities in Human Scalp Hair Comparisons

Wickenheiser, Ray; Hepworth, David

doi:10.1520/jfs12966j

Cited by 23 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Diversity in human scalp hair morphology can be attributed to the variation in hair form across a person's scalp, changes that develop over time because of age or health, differences that exist among individuals, and those caused by a person's genetic background. Empirical research quantifying hair characteristics in different populations has long been pursued in anthropology (Banerjee, 1965;Hausman, 1925aHausman, , 1925bHausman, , 1928Hausman, , 1934Hrdy, 1973;Lasisi et al, 2016;Trotter, 1930;Wynkoop, 1929), forensic science (Bisbing & Wolner, 1984;Gaudette, 1978;Gaudette & Keeping, 1974;Strauss, 1983;Wickenheiser & Hepworth, 1990), and continues to be done in cosmetic research (Bernard, 2003;De La Mettrie et al, 2007;Thibaut et al, 2007). A common, up-to-date lexicon that is current and easily transferable among disciplines would facilitate the development of innovative and transdisciplinary methods to analyze hair.…”

Section: Use Of Microscopy In Hair Characterization and Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biology of human hair: A multidisciplinary review

Koch

Tridico²,

Bernard

et al. 2019

American J Hum Biol

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In the last century, human scalp hair morphology has been studied from multiple, and sometimes mutually exclusive, perspectives by anthropologists, biologists, geneticists, forensic scientists, and cosmetic scientists. Here, we review and synthesize historical and current research on hair to better understand the scientific basis and biological implications of hair microstructure and morphology. We revisit the origins of existing nomenclature regarding hair morphology and classifications, discuss the currently recognized limitations to hair analysis within the varied scientific disciplines studying hair, point out aspects of hair biology that remain unknown, and the great potential for integrating these diverse perspectives and expertise in future scientific investigations, while highlighting the benefits of combining nondestructive microscopical analysis with chemical and genomic analyses for explicating hair biology. Further, we propose consensus terminology for root growth stages through descriptions and images that will aid in the morphological and microscopical analysis of human scalp hair, thereby reducing confusion and the promulgation of inaccurate information that is presently in the literature.

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Section: Use Of Microscopy In Hair Characterization and Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biology of human hair: A multidisciplinary review

Koch

Tridico²,

Bernard

et al. 2019

American J Hum Biol

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“…These microscopically excluded hairs in the current study were subjected to mtDNA typing for a variety of reasons, based largely on case circumstances. Given the consistency of exculpatory results between microscopic and mitochondrial examinations, the general assertion that microscopic hair comparisons are a reliable technique for exclusion is supported (10,12,13). Therefore, it seems reasonable to continue to routinely examine hairs microscopically because a microscopical comparison can reliably exclude hairs, which is a principle aim of the forensic comparison.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If we consider a known sample to exist as an attenuated range of all possible characteristics, it becomes apparent that two known samples could coincide sufficiently for a single hair to exhibit the characteristics of more than one hair in the known samples. This is, however, rare (12,13). Microscopic comparison of hairs has never been considered a positive form of identification and, likewise, mtDNA does not lead to a unique identification of the donor.…”

Section: Microscopic Hair Comparison Protocolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of Microscopic and Mitochondrial DNA Hair Comparisons

Houck

Budowle

2002

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Expert opinions regarding the microscopic comparison of human hairs have been accepted routinely in courts for decades. However, with the advent of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, an assessment can be made of the association by microscopic hair comparisons in casework between a questioned hair and reference hairs from an individual. While each method can be used separately, the two analytical methods can be complementary and together can provide additional information regarding source association. Human hairs submitted to the FBI Laboratory for analysis between 1996 and 2000 were reviewed. Of 170 hair examinations, there were 80 microscopic associations; of these, only nine were excluded by mtDNA. Importantly, 66 hairs that were considered either unsuitable for microscopic examinations or yielded inconclusive microscopic associations provided mtDNA results. Only six hairs did not provide sufficient mtDNA, and only three yielded inconclusive results. Consistency was observed in exculpatory results with the two procedures. This study demonstrates the utility of microscopic hair examinations and the strength of combining microscopic analysis with mtDNA sequencing.

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“…Wickenheiser and Hepworth [26] attempted to replicate the work of Gaudette and Keeping [21], while eliminating the likelihood of examiner bias. In their study, 100 or more scalp hairs were taken from 100 Causasians.…”

Section: Blind Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Current Status of Microscopical Hair Comparisons

Rowe

2001

The Scientific World JOURNAL

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Although the microscopical comparison of human hairs has been accepted in courts of law for over a century, recent advances in DNA technology have called this type of forensic examination into question. In a number of cases, post-conviction DNA testing has exonerated defendants who were convicted in part on the results of microscopical hair comparisons. A federal judge has held a Daubert hearing on the microscopical comparison of human hairs and has concluded that this type of examination does not meet the criteria for admission of scientific evidence in federal courts. A review of the available scientific literature on microscopical hair comparisons (including studies conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) leads to three conclusions: (1) microscopical comparisons of human hairs can yield scientifically defensible conclusions that can contribute to criminal investigations and criminal prosecutions, (2) the reliability of microscopical hair comparisons is strongly affected by the training of the forensic hair examiner, (3) forensic hair examiners cannot offer estimates of the probability of a match of a questioned hair with a hair from a randomly selected person. In order for microscopical hair examinations to survive challenges under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Daubert decision, hair microscopists must be better trained and undergo frequent proficiency testing. More research on the error rates of microscopical hair comparisons should be undertaken, and guidelines for the permissible interpretations of such comparisons should be established. Until these issues have been addressed and satisfactorily resolved, microscopical hair comparisons should be regarded by law enforcement agencies and courts of law as merely presumptive in nature, and all microscopical hair comparisons should be confirmed by nuclear DNA profiling or mitochondrial DNA sequencing.

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Further Evaluation of Probabilities in Human Scalp Hair Comparisons

Cited by 23 publications

References 4 publications

The biology of human hair: A multidisciplinary review

The biology of human hair: A multidisciplinary review

Correlation of Microscopic and Mitochondrial DNA Hair Comparisons

The Current Status of Microscopical Hair Comparisons

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