Forensic Examination of Hair Taylor & Francis Forensic Science Series Edited by James Robertson Forensic Sciences Division, Australian Federal Police Firearms, the Law and Forensic Ballistics T.A.Warlow ISBN 0 7484 0432 5 1996 Scientific Examination of Documents: methods & techniques, 2nd edition D.Ellen ISBN 0 7484 0580 1 1997 Forensic Investigation of Explosions A.Beveridge ISBN 0 7484 0565 8 1998 Forensic Examination of Human Hair J.Robertson ISBN 0 7484 0567 4 1999 Forensic Examination of Fibres J.Roberston & M.Grieve ISBN 0 7484 0816 9 1999 Forensic Examination of Hair Edited by JAMES ROBERTSON First published 1999 by Taylor & Francis 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Taylor & Francis Inc, 325 Chestnut Street, 8th Floor, Philadelphia PA 19106 Taylor & Francis is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002. Copyright © Taylor & Francis 1999 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Every effort has been made to ensure that the advice and information in this book is true and accurate at the time of going to press. However, neither the publisher nor the author can accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. In the case of drug administration, any medical procedure or the use of technical equipment mentioned in this book, you are strongly advised to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 0-203-48352-9 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-79176-2 (Adobe eReader Formatt) ISBN 0-7484-0567-4 (cased) Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data are available Cover design by Youngs Design in Production Contents Preface page vii Notes on Contributors ix 1 Physiology and Growth of Human Hair 1 Harry Harding and George Rogers 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Embryology of Human Hairs 2 1.3 Structure of the Hair Follicle 5 1.4 The Hair 15 1.5 Molecular Biology of Hair Growth 25 1.6 The Hair Cycle 40 1.7 Hair Types and Morphology 46 1.8 Hair Growth, Distribution and Patterns 49 1.9 Hair Growth Problems 52 1.10 Hair Colour and Pigmentation 56 1.11 Glossary 59 1.12 Acknowledgements 61 1.13 References 62 2 Forensic and Microscopic Examination of Human Hair 79 James Robertson 2.1 Setting the Scene 79 2.2 Introduction 80 2.3 Non-human Hair 80 2.4 Human Hair 84 2.5 Examination Process 120 2.6 Reporting Hair Examinations 127 2.7 Conclusion 129 2.8 Acknowledgement 131 2.9 References 131 Appendix 1: Animal Hair Examination Proforma 134 Appendix 2: Human Hair Examination Proforma 136 Appendix 3: Case Report Examples and Hair Protocol 140 Appendix 4: Section 3.10.3 NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia), General Requirements for Registration 154 3 Typing of DNA Derived from Hairs 155 Joseph A.DiZinno, Mark R.Wilson and Bruce Budowle 3.1 Introduction 155 v Contents 3.2 DNA—a Brief Summary 156 3.3 Mitochondrial DNA 156 3.4 mt DNA Nomenclature Issues 159 3.5 Extraction of DNA 161 3.6 DNA Extraction from Hair 161 3.7 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 163 3.8 Sequencing 165 3.9 Dot Blot Typing 167 3.10 Forensic Applications 168 3.11 References 170 4 Elemental Analysis of Hair for Forensic Application—a Personal journey 175 John Goulding 4.1 Introduction 175 4.2 Occurrence of Elements in Human Hair 176 4.3 Procedures and Protocols 179 4.4 Conclusions 185 4.5 Acknowledgements 189 4.6 References 189 Appendix 1: Case Histories—Multi-element Applications 192 Appendix 2: Case Histories—Single-element Application 198 Appendix 3: IAEA Advisory—Sampling Conditions for Hair 204 5 Drug Analysis Using Hair 207 Ian R.Tebbett 5.1 Introduction 207 5.2 Drugs in Hair 212 5.3 Conclusions 221 5.4 References 223 6 Forensic Examination of Hairs for Cosmetic Treatment 229 Debra Nelson and Peter De Forest 6.1 Introduction 229 6.2 Cosmetic Treatments 229 6.3 Hair Dyes 230 6.4 Bleach 233 6.5 Permanent Waves and Relaxers 234 6.6 Shampoos, Conditioners and Polymers 236 6.7 Detection and Characterization 238 6.8 Conclusions 240 6.9 References 241 7 Evidential Value of Hair Examination 243 Barry D.Gaudette 7.1 Introduction 243 7.2 Occurrence of Hair as physical Evidence 243 7.3 Recovery of Hair Evidence 245 7.4 The Process of Forensic Hair Comparison 246 7.5 Interpreting the Significance of Hair Comparison Evidence 247 7.6 Report Writing and Court Testimony 255 7.7 Acknowledgements 257 7.8 References 258 Index 261 vi Preface Hairs are a potentially ubiquitous trace material in many types of forensic investigation. Few forensic materials give rise to such differing views on their value as evidence, and these views are often held with a passion. Some believe that hairs provide worthless evidence, while others believe that hairs can provide potentially, and actually, very significant evidence. The application of DNA methods to the examination of hairs has sparked renewed interest in the forensic examination of hairs and the role of microscopic examination. As editor of this volume, I make no excuse for being a believer in the value of hair examination. However, the purpose of this book is not to take an evangelical stand to persuade the non-believers. The content should provide the balanced reader with enough factual information to enable him/her to form his/her own view. Chapters deal with the physiology and growth of hair, the microscopic examination of hair, the use of DNA analysis, forensic examination for cosmetic treatments, drugs and elemental analysis, and an assessment of the evidential value and interpretation of hairs as evidence. In the final analysis, it is for each laboratory system to decide on its own strategy and policy with regard to hair examination. What should be abundantly clear to the reader is that half-hearted commitment to the forensic examination of hairs is dangerous. Laboratory managers and leaders need to decide whether or not they are in a position to make a full commitment. There is also undoubtedly the need for more quality assurance measures, including proficiency testing to ensure the scientific reliability of hair examination. I thank my authors for their great patience in what turned out to be a very lengthy process. I thank my wife, Margaret, for help with editorial and wordprocessing input. I am glad to report that our marriage has now survived three books! Finally, this book is dedicated to my parents, John and Jeanetta Robertson. James Robertson Canberra Notes on Contributors Bruce Budowle FBI Laboratory, Forensic Science Research and Training Center, FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia 22135, USA Bruce received a PhD in Genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia in 1979. Subsequently he was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunogenetics by the National Cancer Institute and carried out research at the University of Alabama in Birmingham on genetic risk factors for insulin-dependent diabetes, melanoma and acute lymphocytic leukemia. In 1983 he joined the FBI to develop genetic marker systems for forensic human identity testing. His current position at the FBI is Program Manager for DNA Research. Bruce has published over 200 articles related to forensic identity testing. He currently serves on the editorial board of the following journals: Applied and Theoretical Electrophoresis, BioTechniques, International Journal of Legal Medicine, Crime Laboratory Digest, and Genetic Analysis: Biomolecular Engineering. In addition, he is the Chair of the Technical Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (TWGDAM), the Chair of the DNA Commission of the International Society of Forensic Haemogenetics, and a member of the DNA Advisory Board. Peter De Forest John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York, 445 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019, USA Peter is Professor of Criminalistics at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he has taught for 28 years. Prior to joining the faculty and helping to found the forensic science BSc, MSc and PhD programmes at John Jay and the City University of New York, he worked in several laboratories. He began his career in forensic science at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Crime Laboratory, Ventura, California in 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree (1964) in Criminalistics and a Doctor of Criminology degree in Criminalistics (1969) from the University of California at Berkeley, under Dr Paul L. Kirk. In addition to his university teaching and research activities, he serves as a scientific consultant and expert witness for police departments, prosecutors’ officers, municipal law departments, public defender agencies and private attorneys in criminal and civil casework. He is the author or co-author of several book chapters, a textbook and numerous articles in scientific journals. In addition to membership in several scientific societies, he is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Forensic Sciences and the Crime Laboratory Digest. Since the inception of the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), Peter has served as the chairman of its Examination Committee. He has presented lectures and workshops for several professional societies and in other universities and has served as Visiting Professor at the ix Notes on Contributors University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. During the latter part of 1997 he served as Exchange Professor with the National Crime Faculty at the Police Staff College, Bramshill, England.