Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Environmental Forensics > Palynology and Botany > Flashcards

Palynology and Botany Flashcards

1
Q

What is forensic botany?

A

Forensic botany is the applied scientific discipline that regards the general study of botanical evidence and includes many sub-disciplines, such as palynology , dendrochronology, limnology (diatoms) amongst others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are gymnosperms?

A

Gymnosperms are the oldest seed plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are some examples of gymnosperms?

A

Evergreens are conifer gymnosperms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What kind of seeds are produced by gymnosperms?

A

They produce their seeds in a hard, scaly structure (cones).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How does pollination occur in gymnosperms?

A

Pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the
male cones to the female cones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is an angiosperm?

A

The most recent plant group to evolve is known as the flowering plant.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the various parts of an angiosperm?

A
  1. The Petal
  2. Sepal
  3. Receptacle
  4. The Carpal (Stigma, Style, Ovary)
  5. Ovule
  6. Stamen (Anther and Stamen)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do angiosperm produce seeds?

A

Plants in this group produce seeds in an enclosed fruit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are some examples of angiosperms?

A

These plants are very diverse and include corn, oaks,
maples, and the grasses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is pollination?

A

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a plant to the female part of a seed plant.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the types of pollination?

A

Self pollination and Cross Pollination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is self pollination?

A

Self-pollination, in flowering plants, involves transfer of pollen from an anther to the stigma within the same flower, as in pea plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is cross-pollination?

A

Cross-pollination is the process of applying pollen from one flower to the pistils of another flower.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How can pollen be carried?

A

Pollen can be carried by wind, animals, or water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why is pollen be carried by wind less effective?

A

Pollen carried by wind may be less effective for determining direct links between individuals and places because of the long distances over which it can be carried.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are some examples of spore producers?

A

Spore producers include certain protists (algae), plants, fungi, and the bacteria that produce a unique type of spore.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Bacterial spores can cause which disease?

A

Bacterial spores, endospores, can cause diseases such as
anthrax and botulism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How does algae disperse their spores?

A

Algae disperse spores into water or air.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Who, when and where was the first outlined the concept of pollen analysis?

A

Pollen analysis began in 1916 in Sweden with the concept that was first outlined by Lennart Von Post.

20
Q

When was the earliest known use of pollen analysis?

A

The earliest known use was in 1959.

21
Q

Why pollen is a good tool for forensics?

A
  • Pollen and spores are microscopic, making them silent witnesses that can provide important clues in forensic investigations.
  • They are nearly impossible to eliminate from a crime scene even if they were visible. With approximately 500,000 plant species producing unique pollens or spores, they can provide valuable evidence for identifying the location and timing of a crime.
22
Q

What is forensic palynology?

A

Forensic palynology is the use of pollen and spores as evidence in forensic investigations. It involves the microscopic analysis of these microscopic plant structures found at crime scenes to identify the type of plant they come from and potentially provide important clues about the location and timing of a crime.

23
Q

What is palynology?

A

This is the study of fossil and modern ‘palynomorphs’

24
Q

What is a palynomorph?

A

A palynomorph is defined as a particle made of organic material that measures between 5 and 500 micrometers and is found in sedimentary deposits.

25
Q

What can Forensic Palynology do?

A
  1. Determining the site of a crime: Forensic investigators can determine the geographic region where the plants originated by studying the pollen and spores found at a crime scene, offering significant information about the location of the crime.
  2. Identifying the season and time of a crime: The kind and quantity of pollen and spores discovered at a crime scene can reveal information about the season and time of the incident.
  3. Suspects and crime scenes: If a suspect has recently visited a certain location, pollen and spores from that location may be found on their clothing or belongings, linking them to the crime scene.
  4. Providing evidence in court: Forensic palynology can give tangible evidence that can be produced in court, potentially assisting to achieve a conviction.
26
Q

How does Forensic Palynology work?

A

Pollen and spores from native plants are used in forensic palynology to pinpoint the location of someone or something.

27
Q

What is the characteristics of morphology of pollen and spores?

A

They are:
1. Size
2. Shape
3. Wall Pattern
4. Wall Thickness
5. Apertures

28
Q

What equipment can be used in forensic palynology?

A

Equipment like Scanning Electron Microscope are used for their accuracy and clarity at such small scales but most light microscopes because of lack of funding or access.

29
Q

What are some databases used for pollen grains?

A

Global Pollen Database and European Pollen databases

30
Q

How can soil assist in comparing forensic palynology?

A

Forensic palynology can compare two soil samples to see if they came from the same spot, which can help identify the scene of a crime or connect a suspect to a specific location.

31
Q

Why use forensic palynology?

A

Pollen and spores are abundant, easy transferable, reliable and very durable( they last millions of year). Because of their small size they can be trapped in fibres, soil, skin or even mucus membrane.

32
Q

How does durablity help pollen and spores as evidence?

A

Their durability means they can leave a vegetative history in the soil. This history is unique to each area which makes it easy to identify.

33
Q

The limitations of forensic palynology?

A

This disciple is labour intensive, expensive and require certain rare level of expertise.

34
Q

What are some techniques used in forensic palynology?

A
  • Gene mapping
  • Light microscope & scanning electron microscope,
  • Acetolysis (chlorination and acetolysation),
  • ICP-OES & XRF/XRD
  • GIS Mapping
35
Q

What is the significance of Gene Mapping?

A

DNA Analysis (PCR) provide data on the pollen, spore and other microbes for unique ID.

36
Q

What is the significance of LM & SEM?

A

To identify the various pollen, spore, diatoms and other microbes at the test sites.

37
Q

What is the significance of acetolysis?

A

Sample clean up and visualisation of pollen and spores.

38
Q

When is Chlorination and Acetoysation used?

A

This is employed when visualising pollen for microscopic analysis for fossilised sample.

39
Q

When is acetolysation used?

A

This is employed when visualising pollen for microscopic analysis for clean sample.

40
Q

What is the significance of Grinding soil sample
and press pellets or fused beads

A

XRF/XRD analysis, to improve the density of the analytical zone and reduce background

41
Q

What is the significance of ICP-OES & XRF/XRD?

A

To acquire the elemental profile of the soil samples (to get a soil map of the various locations).

42
Q

What is the significance of GIS Mapping?

A

To get the precise location (longitude and latitude) of the of the selected farms and to observe trends and relationships etc. from the data collected

43
Q

What are some common sources of pollen and spore evidence?

A
  1. Living and decaying plant materials.
  2. Soil, dirt, mud and dust.
  3. Hair, fur, and feathers.
  4. Clothing, shoes, blankets, rugs, baskets, carpets and rope
  5. Victim skin, hair, nails, nasal passages, lungs, stomach, intestines and fecal material
  6. Paper, money and packaging material (newspaper, straw, cardboard, plastic)
  7. Vehicles
  8. Furniture
  9. Aire filters of cars, homes, airplanes
  10. Cracks and crevices in floors, walls, roofs and fences
  11. Drug resins
  12. Honey and other food.
44
Q

How to Collect Pollen and Spores

A
  1. Samples must be collected wearing gloves and with clean tools (such as brushes and cellophane tape) and placed in sterile containers, which then must be sealed and labeled with care.
  2. Sampling instruments must be cleaned after each use, or new ones must be used.
  3. Collected evidence must be secured, and the chain of custody must be maintained.
45
Q

What is the chlorination process?

A
  1. When added fluid stirred with a glass rod and heated for 3 min.
  2. Chlorine appears immediately.
  3. Causes bleaching within flow seconds.
  4. 3x rinsing in distilled water
  5. 1-2x rinsing in conc. acetic acid (dehydration)
46
Q

What is the acetolysation process?

A
  1. A acetoylsis mixture of 9 parts of acetic anhyride and 1 part conc. sulfuric acid.
  2. heat for 4 min
  3. centrifugation
  4. rinsing in acetic acid (dehydration)
  5. rinsing in distilled water (minimum 3 times)
47
Q

Analyzing pollen and spore samples?

A
  1. Specialists use compound light microscope, a scanning electronic microscope, reference collections, and dried specimens to identify pollen and spores.
  2. Pollen and spore evidence that has been collected, analyzed, and interpreted can be presented in court.
  3. These “fingerprints” can be used to confirm certain aspects of a crime.

Environmental Forensics (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions