Identifying Taxonomic Belonging of Animal HairUsing Instrumental and Microscopic Methods

Abstract

Urgent need to develop a methodology for identifying taxonomic belonging of animal hair using modern research methods (identification of additional objective criteria in the case of a comparative research on material evidence, namely: animal hair) is considered that contributes to solving a larger range of issues raised while appointment forensic biological examination. Authors aimed to substantiate possibility of identifying the taxonomic affiliation of animal hair using instrumental and microscopic methods, in particular, scanning electron microscope, allowing forensic biologists to study the surfaces of objects of animal origin, both of significant linear dimensions, and of microparticles in a wide range of magnifications (from 10× to more than 200,000×), providing a resolution of up to 10–9 m. Obtaining a general image of the surface and selecting appropriate areas for detailing (at the maximum possible magnifications) does not require significant reconfiguration of the device. A significant depth of focus provides detailed images of various surfaces with developed relief (cracks; traces of mechanical damage; morphological specifics of periodically reproduced surface structures). Contrast is the detection result of reflected electrons (depending on the distribution of phase components differing in chemical composition the studied sample surface). The proposed method of researching animal hair will significantly expand possibilities of examination of these objects: it will reduce the time and increase the accuracy of conducting such research, as well as make it possible to supplement illustrative material (for example, microphotographs of hair cuticles of frequently encountered animal species).