FootPrints & SnowBoots

Hi Everyone!

Remember the last time it snowed here in Washington? Well not only did I play, but I got some footprints of me, my mom, my dad and my brothers snow boots! Below is a picture of all the footprints!

I also solved a mystery. I had all my family's foot prints and my mom showed me a trail. She said that one of us had made it and I wanted to find out who made the trail. So I took pictures of the trail with my moms phone, then I compared them with the prints in the snow. 

The verdict was......

My Mom!

That's how Forensic Scientists do it at real crime scenes.

Over & Out

Elise

Another Interview!

Below are the answers to a few questions I sent to  Dr. Joanna L. Kelley PhD. For more info on her, see the bottom of the interview.

1. What is Bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics is the study of complex biological systems, including genetic information, including both the design of algorithms (a set of rules for problem-solving) and data analysis. The goal is to combine biological information to learn new things about biological systems. 

2. What type of organisms do you study?

In my research, I study the genomes of two different species of fish. One fish lives in Mexico and some of the populations of fish live in streams with toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide, yet the fish are able to survive there. The other fish I study lives in the mangrove swamps in the southern US and Caribbean. 

3. Your job sounds really complicated. What is it that you do?

I am a professor of Biological Sciences at Washington State University. My job includes running a research lab and teaching college students. 

4. What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is that I am always thinking about and working on new ideas. The research aspect of the job is very interesting and I am able to make new discoveries and follow different ideas that interest me. 

5. How do you keep all of those big long words in your head?

I am able to keep long words in my head through practice. Sometimes I need to re-lookup words to make sure I have the definition correct. I use google and other online dictionaries to keep things straight when I need to. 

6. What tools do you use?

The majority of my work is done on the computer. I run computer programs and write some of them too. There is a part of the work that is done in the wet laboratory too. I like to keep a mix of the different kinds of work. 

7. What was it like when you went to Switzerland? Was it interesting?

My trip to Switzerland was very interesting. I was invited to visit the laboratory of Professor Jeffrey Jensen. I spent several days speaking with different researchers there about their work and I had an opportunity to present my work to the group as well. In addition to the great science, it was also beautiful in Switzerland and very interesting to see another place in the world. 

Sincerely, 

Joanna Kelley

Joanna L. Kelley, PhD

Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

Member, Center for Reproductive Biology

Washington State University

Well, that was my letter. Thanks Dr. Kelley!!

Over & Out!
Elise

What is Battlefield Forensics? : A few question for my aunt

I asked asked my Aunt some questions about her training as a Battlefield Forensic Specialist, below are the answers to her questions.


Forensic Elise :

WHAT DO YOU DO?


SFC Aunt:

 Battlefield Forensics is collecting evidence on the battlefield, places Soldiers deploy to fight. Evidence can include:
 - fingerprints off of items you can't take with you back to the office like walls, off of people, or off of items that can be brought back to the lab like computers, paper or a lamp
- DNA samples from people detained, this is done by taking a Q-tip and swiping it inside the cheek
- body fluids samples from cups or drops of blood, this is also done using a Q-tip     

Forensic Elise :

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART? 

SFC Aunt:

I like the long term impacts of battlefield forensics.  For example, if I pull fingerprints from a random person accessing a military base, his fingerprints with associated biographical information (name, address, contact information)will always be available to reference. So if one, five or even ten years from now the same guy participates in a crime and leaves his fingerprints at the scene, his fingerprints will go back to him instead of being an unknown suspect

Forensic Elise :

WHAT'S THE MOST INTERESTING PART? 

SFC Aunt:

The science of Battlefield Forensics is the most interesting to me. How every persons fingerprints are different and even a partial print can be used to identify a person. I like that everyone can pull fingerprints from evidence using a pencil and a piece of scotch tape. 

Forensic Elise :

WHAT TOOLS DO YOU USE?

SFC Aunt:

For pulling fingerprints I use powder, a brush, tape and a note card (to put the fingerprint on).
For getting fingerprints from a person in front of me I use ink and a note card.
For collecting DNA I use Q-tips and a tube to put the Q-tip in to protect it from contamination.
I use a lot of bags. When I have to quickly collect evidence from a crime scene, I put everything in individual sealing bags. This is to protect any fingerprints on the item.
And I also use a camera to take pictures of EVERYTHING. People I get fingerprints from, pieces of evidence before placing it in a bag, and the layout of crime scenes.

Forensic Elise :
WHAT ARE THE CREEPY PARTS?

SFC Aunt:

The creepy part is the responsibility. If I don't do my job right a man that has committed a crime could go free and not be punished for bad things he has done.

Thank you for SFC Aunt for answering my questions!

Over & Out!
Elise 

Hi!

Recently I drew a picture for a local crime lab. Along with it, I will be sending a letter asking permission to visit their crime lab. Here is the link - Washington State Crime Lab.

They specialize in DNA, firearms, and have a fingerprinting database along with many other specialties.


Over & Out!
Elise

Welcome to My Blog

Hi!
I'm starting this blog for my student learning project. The goal of my blog is to share my learning as I make new discoveries on my topic: forensics.

My school is Cedar Wood Elementary and I am in a 4^th grade highly capable class. Each year we do a special project of our choice. This year I am doing forensics as my topic. I have to do research and have a 3D piece to demonstrate my learning. Then I will present it at the end of the year.

The topics I am researching on are firearms, fingerprints, DNA, crime scenes, and evidence. The topic I am most interested in is fingerprints. 

Over & Out!

Elise