On the third day of Forensics Week, we broke out into three groups and participated in stations that involved DNA retrieval and packaging, fingerprinting, and deciphering handprints!
The first station was DNA retrieval and packaging. In our small group, we split into groups of two and performed buccal swabs on each other and packaged them away as if we were sending them to be tested. There were many steps involved in this process, and in a real setting, you must be very meticulous when extracting DNA, so it can be properly disclosed and tested. It was very interesting to hear about how important each step of DNA extraction is and to be able to perform one myself!
The next station was fingerprinting. Corporal Russell Benefield, who spoke earlier this week, came back to perform a fingerprinting lab with us! First, we printed our thumbs on fingerprinting paper, brushed over them with magnetic powder to reveal our prints, and finished by taping over them to preserve them as if they were being sent off to be tested! This lab was my favorite part of the day because I enjoyed seeing how different my prints were from each of my classmates!
The final station was deciphering handprints. Mr. Garside took my classmates and me into an extremely dark room, where he sprayed Blue Star on a piece of paper, which was covered in handprints, and cleaned up the blood. This special spray allows you to see if blood has already been cleaned up before someone arrives to the scene. This was very interesting to watch and see how loaw enforcement uses this tool every day in the workplace!
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