TSA Forensic Science Exam
Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified
Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update.
Autopsy - Answer✔✔-The internal and external examination of a body after
death. An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death
and establish other pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last
consumed and the time it was consumed.
Blood Splatter - Answer✔✔-The pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This
pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help
determine the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which
the perpetrator or victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create
the blood spill.
Caliber - Answer✔✔-The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually
expressed in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.
,Composite Drawing - Answer✔✔-A sketch of a suspect produced from
eyewitness descriptions of one or more persons.
Criminology - Answer✔✔-The study of criminal activity and how it is dealt with
by the law.
DNA - Answer✔✔-Deoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix strand. Genetic code
(fingerprint). 50% from mom and 50% from dad. ACGT.
DNA Electrophoresis - Answer✔✔-The technique by which DNA fragments are
placed in a gel and charged with electricity. An applied electric field then
separates the fragments by size, as part of the process of creating a genetic
profile.
DNA Profiling - Answer✔✔-The process of testing to identify DNA patterns or
types. In forensic science this testing is used to indicate parentage or to exclude
or include individuals as possible sources of bodily fluid stains (blood, saliva,
semen) and other biological evidence (bones, hair, teeth)
Fingerprint - Answer✔✔-The unique patterns created by skin ridges found on
the palm sides of fingers and thumbs.
Forensic Science - Answer✔✔-The application of science to law. The
application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by
police agencies in a criminal justice system. The focus of forensics is the crime
lab. The crime lab uses the principles and technique of biology, chemistry,
physics, geology, anthropology, and other sciences in order to place physical
evidence into a professional discipline.
,Absolute Certainty - Answer✔✔-ultimate sureness with no implication of
possible change.
Accountability - Answer✔✔-the quality of subordinate workers being
responsible for his/her own work and answerable to a superior.
Accuracy - Answer✔✔-the degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its
actual (true) value.
Acetone - Answer✔✔-a colorless, highly flammable chemical compound used
as an organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and
adhering liquids.
Accelerant - Answer✔✔-an agent, often an ignitable liquid, that acts to initiate
a fire or increase its rate of spread.
Administrative documentation - Answer✔✔-records such as case related
conversations, evidence receipts, description of evidence packaging and seals,
and other pertinent information.
Administrative (or Laboratory Director) Case File Review - Answer✔✔-a
detailed final review of the case file documentation. A member other than the
assigned analyst must conduct the Laboratory Director case file review on all
case files.
Algor mortis - Answer✔✔-the postmortem cooling of the body.
, Analytical Data - Answer✔✔-all case specific records such as notes,
worksheets, graphs, spectra, printouts, computer data files, photographs,
photocopies, microscopic slides and other data or records.
Analytical Procedure - Answer✔✔-an orderly step-by-step process designed to
ensure operational uniformity and to minimize systematic variability.
Analyst - Answer✔✔-any ADFS personnel assigned to perform scientific
investigation or evidential examination.
Ante mortem - preceding death Antigens - Answer✔✔-foreign substances in
the body that are capable of causing disease.
Arson - Answer✔✔-the intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other
property.
Assessment - Answer✔✔-the process of evaluating analysts to determine their
level of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Asphyxiation - Answer✔✔-a medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack
of oxygen in the blood.
Audit - Answer✔✔-a review conducted to compare the various aspects of the
laboratory's performance with a standard for that performance.
Back spatter - Answer✔✔-blood directed back toward the source of energy or
force that caused the spatter; often associated with entrance gunshot wounds.
Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified
Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update.
Autopsy - Answer✔✔-The internal and external examination of a body after
death. An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death
and establish other pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last
consumed and the time it was consumed.
Blood Splatter - Answer✔✔-The pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This
pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help
determine the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which
the perpetrator or victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create
the blood spill.
Caliber - Answer✔✔-The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually
expressed in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.
,Composite Drawing - Answer✔✔-A sketch of a suspect produced from
eyewitness descriptions of one or more persons.
Criminology - Answer✔✔-The study of criminal activity and how it is dealt with
by the law.
DNA - Answer✔✔-Deoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix strand. Genetic code
(fingerprint). 50% from mom and 50% from dad. ACGT.
DNA Electrophoresis - Answer✔✔-The technique by which DNA fragments are
placed in a gel and charged with electricity. An applied electric field then
separates the fragments by size, as part of the process of creating a genetic
profile.
DNA Profiling - Answer✔✔-The process of testing to identify DNA patterns or
types. In forensic science this testing is used to indicate parentage or to exclude
or include individuals as possible sources of bodily fluid stains (blood, saliva,
semen) and other biological evidence (bones, hair, teeth)
Fingerprint - Answer✔✔-The unique patterns created by skin ridges found on
the palm sides of fingers and thumbs.
Forensic Science - Answer✔✔-The application of science to law. The
application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by
police agencies in a criminal justice system. The focus of forensics is the crime
lab. The crime lab uses the principles and technique of biology, chemistry,
physics, geology, anthropology, and other sciences in order to place physical
evidence into a professional discipline.
,Absolute Certainty - Answer✔✔-ultimate sureness with no implication of
possible change.
Accountability - Answer✔✔-the quality of subordinate workers being
responsible for his/her own work and answerable to a superior.
Accuracy - Answer✔✔-the degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its
actual (true) value.
Acetone - Answer✔✔-a colorless, highly flammable chemical compound used
as an organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and
adhering liquids.
Accelerant - Answer✔✔-an agent, often an ignitable liquid, that acts to initiate
a fire or increase its rate of spread.
Administrative documentation - Answer✔✔-records such as case related
conversations, evidence receipts, description of evidence packaging and seals,
and other pertinent information.
Administrative (or Laboratory Director) Case File Review - Answer✔✔-a
detailed final review of the case file documentation. A member other than the
assigned analyst must conduct the Laboratory Director case file review on all
case files.
Algor mortis - Answer✔✔-the postmortem cooling of the body.
, Analytical Data - Answer✔✔-all case specific records such as notes,
worksheets, graphs, spectra, printouts, computer data files, photographs,
photocopies, microscopic slides and other data or records.
Analytical Procedure - Answer✔✔-an orderly step-by-step process designed to
ensure operational uniformity and to minimize systematic variability.
Analyst - Answer✔✔-any ADFS personnel assigned to perform scientific
investigation or evidential examination.
Ante mortem - preceding death Antigens - Answer✔✔-foreign substances in
the body that are capable of causing disease.
Arson - Answer✔✔-the intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other
property.
Assessment - Answer✔✔-the process of evaluating analysts to determine their
level of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Asphyxiation - Answer✔✔-a medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack
of oxygen in the blood.
Audit - Answer✔✔-a review conducted to compare the various aspects of the
laboratory's performance with a standard for that performance.
Back spatter - Answer✔✔-blood directed back toward the source of energy or
force that caused the spatter; often associated with entrance gunshot wounds.
