Forensic Science Question?

Question

For My Science Fair Project, I Chose To Do This Topic:

Can you tell where a person has been by the microscopic particles picked up by their pants?

The Site Where I Got This Topic From Only Provided Me The Problem, The Title, The Materials, And The Materials,
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TRAVELING PANTS

Topics – Biology - Forensic Science Fair Projects
Problem
Can you tell where a person has been by the microscopic particles picked up by their pants?
Hypothesis
I believe that you will be able to tell where a person has been by a microscopic inspection of particles picked up by their pants such as animal hairs, fabric fibers, or plant pollen.
Materials
• Clothing worn by Subjects
• Microscope Slides
• Microscope
• Internet for identification of particles

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Problem Is, I Don't Know The Steps Or What To Do, I Have Everything They Asked For In The Materials, I Just Don't Know What To Do.


The Websites Link Is:

http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/8th-grade-science-fair-projects.html

Just Scroll Down On Project Nine ( 9 )

Answer 1

The answer to your question is a resounding - YES...



The problem is - it is difficult to do...



Let me explain...



If you did a survey of the plants around your town/city and took samples of the pollen easc plant produces and produced a database you could look at the pollen mix on a suspects pants/dress and match that to the pollen that surrounds the town/city...



There are problems with this approach and it would work best to find solid evidence, such as a body, but it is sometimes used...

Answer 2

The problem with this project, for an inexperienced person, is that even if you develop some skill in the collection and preparation of particles from clothing, you also have to be able to identify those particles microscopically. If you don't know what you are looking at, you can't use it to establish where someone has been. Rose pollen would suggest the person had been near rose bushes - but if you don't know rose pollen when you see it, it doesn't tell you anything.