UF PHA 6936 Special Topics in Forensic Science
Practice Test 2026 | Verified Answers | Exam Prep
1. If a forensic team is conducting an underwater investigation and encounters
strong currents, which search pattern would be most effective to adapt to the
conditions?
Line search pattern
Spiral search pattern
Circular search pattern
Grid search pattern
2. An alternate light source (ALS) can be used in the following ways:
To locate semen, urine, or saliva using UV light (365-415 nm)
As a crime scene search tool using a broad pass band filter (430-520
nm)
To observe fluoroscein reactions in bloodstains using wavelengths of
455-485 nm
Only A and B
All of the above
3. What sort of protection should be used when working with gamma emitters?
C. a sheet of aluminum
B. heavy clothing
E. None is needed at all because they are not very penetrating
A. lead shields
D. a very thick slab of concrete
,4. What is the acceptable percentage variation in peak area and peak area ratio
for drugs and internal standards in forensic analysis?
5%
10%
15%
20%
5. What is the primary purpose of isoamyl alcohol in the process of DNA
extraction?
To separate DNA from proteins and other cellular debris.
To facilitate the amplification of DNA.
To preserve the integrity of the DNA sample.
To enhance the visibility of DNA under UV light.
6. What type of guidelines must be followed when collecting samples for DNA
databases?
No guidelines are necessary
Only state guidelines
Both federal and state guidelines
Only federal guidelines
7. What is one key piece of information that must be documented during the
collection of forensic samples?
Location of the crime scene
Type of evidence collected
, Name of the investigator
Date and time of collection
8. A secretor is one whose ABO blood group can be determined from their
saliva or any of their bodily fluids. Approximately percent of the population
are secretors.
40
50
80
98
9. What is the primary organization responsible for overseeing the safety of
human subjects in research?
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
10. DNA exists in a double-stranded form whereas RNA is mainly a single
stranded molecule. What is the likely reason for DNA being double
stranded?
Double stranded DNA cannot be replicated
Double stranded DNA is a more stable structure
Complementary DNA strands are not able form base pairs
DNA cannot exist in the single stranded form
Double stranded DNA is very difficult to pack into chromosomes
, 11. You are investigating a crime where only very small amounts of DNA were
able to be taken from the scene. What method of DNA analysis would you
most likely use?
PCR
RFLP
Mitochondrial DNA analysis
Y-chromosome analysis
12. Describe how isoamyl alcohol contributes to the efficiency of DNA
extraction methods.
Isoamyl alcohol is used to enhance the fluorescence of DNA during
analysis.
Isoamyl alcohol acts as a preservative for DNA samples during
extraction.
Isoamyl alcohol helps to separate the DNA from proteins and
lipids, improving the purity of the DNA sample.
Isoamyl alcohol increases the yield of DNA by promoting cell lysis.
13. In a forensic investigation, if a suspect is identified as a non-secretor, how
might this influence the interpretation of blood evidence found at a crime
scene?
It would confirm that the suspect is guilty.
It would have no impact on the interpretation of the blood evidence.
It may suggest that the blood evidence could not have originated
from the suspect.
It would indicate that the blood evidence is contaminated.
Practice Test 2026 | Verified Answers | Exam Prep
1. If a forensic team is conducting an underwater investigation and encounters
strong currents, which search pattern would be most effective to adapt to the
conditions?
Line search pattern
Spiral search pattern
Circular search pattern
Grid search pattern
2. An alternate light source (ALS) can be used in the following ways:
To locate semen, urine, or saliva using UV light (365-415 nm)
As a crime scene search tool using a broad pass band filter (430-520
nm)
To observe fluoroscein reactions in bloodstains using wavelengths of
455-485 nm
Only A and B
All of the above
3. What sort of protection should be used when working with gamma emitters?
C. a sheet of aluminum
B. heavy clothing
E. None is needed at all because they are not very penetrating
A. lead shields
D. a very thick slab of concrete
,4. What is the acceptable percentage variation in peak area and peak area ratio
for drugs and internal standards in forensic analysis?
5%
10%
15%
20%
5. What is the primary purpose of isoamyl alcohol in the process of DNA
extraction?
To separate DNA from proteins and other cellular debris.
To facilitate the amplification of DNA.
To preserve the integrity of the DNA sample.
To enhance the visibility of DNA under UV light.
6. What type of guidelines must be followed when collecting samples for DNA
databases?
No guidelines are necessary
Only state guidelines
Both federal and state guidelines
Only federal guidelines
7. What is one key piece of information that must be documented during the
collection of forensic samples?
Location of the crime scene
Type of evidence collected
, Name of the investigator
Date and time of collection
8. A secretor is one whose ABO blood group can be determined from their
saliva or any of their bodily fluids. Approximately percent of the population
are secretors.
40
50
80
98
9. What is the primary organization responsible for overseeing the safety of
human subjects in research?
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
10. DNA exists in a double-stranded form whereas RNA is mainly a single
stranded molecule. What is the likely reason for DNA being double
stranded?
Double stranded DNA cannot be replicated
Double stranded DNA is a more stable structure
Complementary DNA strands are not able form base pairs
DNA cannot exist in the single stranded form
Double stranded DNA is very difficult to pack into chromosomes
, 11. You are investigating a crime where only very small amounts of DNA were
able to be taken from the scene. What method of DNA analysis would you
most likely use?
PCR
RFLP
Mitochondrial DNA analysis
Y-chromosome analysis
12. Describe how isoamyl alcohol contributes to the efficiency of DNA
extraction methods.
Isoamyl alcohol is used to enhance the fluorescence of DNA during
analysis.
Isoamyl alcohol acts as a preservative for DNA samples during
extraction.
Isoamyl alcohol helps to separate the DNA from proteins and
lipids, improving the purity of the DNA sample.
Isoamyl alcohol increases the yield of DNA by promoting cell lysis.
13. In a forensic investigation, if a suspect is identified as a non-secretor, how
might this influence the interpretation of blood evidence found at a crime
scene?
It would confirm that the suspect is guilty.
It would have no impact on the interpretation of the blood evidence.
It may suggest that the blood evidence could not have originated
from the suspect.
It would indicate that the blood evidence is contaminated.
