OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
Temperatures reached in fires that produce physical effects that can be related to specific temperature ranges.
Extended Feature Set for markup of friction ridge data [2015a>]as defined in fields9.300-9.399 [
The FBI's earlier application profile of the ANSI/NIST-ITL standard: Electronic FingerprintTransmission Specification. It has been superseded by EBTS.
A disease of the elbow joint of canines caused by growth disturbances in the elbow joint.
A disease of the elbow joint of canines caused by growth disturbances in the elbow joint.
A small, incandescent particle created by some arcs.
The complete longitudinal electronic dental history of an individual
A broad concept that includes public or private information stored in an electronic or digital medium, such as data available from computers (including email), CD-ROM discs, DVDs, Internet, cloud storage, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, tablets, GPS systems, satellites, and drones. ESI includes writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, sound recordings, images, video recordings, data compilations, computer-aided design files such as blueprints or maps, metadata, equipment/process control and data logging system files, and any other data that is stored electronically.
A plot of fluorescence units over time showing the measured peaks of a DNA molecule atvarious genetic locations.
A technique used in laboratories to separate macromolecules based on size. Charged molecules (e.g. proteins, DNA and RNA) migrate towards an oppositely charged pole through a sieving matrix, which permits a size-dependent separation.
A technique used in laboratories to separate macromolecules based on size and charge. Negatively charged molecules (e.g. DNA and RNA) migrate towards a positively charged pole through a sieving matrix, which permits a size-dependent separation.
The examination of (writing) indentations of paper.
An instrument that uses electrostatic charge as the mechanism to visualize paper fiber disturbances (for example, indentations, erasures, typewritten material/lift off).
The process of using an electrostatic charge to transfer dry origin impressions from the substrate toa film.
The process of using an electrostatic charge to transfer dry origin impressions from the substrate to a film.
In XML, an element is a building block delimited by a start-tag (for example:) and an end-tag (for example: ). Everything between thestart-tag and the end-tag of the element (exclusive) is called the element's content. Thefields, subfields, and information items used by traditional-encoding (non-XML)are all represented by XML elements in this encoding.
an element that can be found in a pGSR particle.
Searchable collection of elimination profiles
DNA profile from an individual whose access, role, or activities might result in DNA contamination; includes profiles associated with consumables and positive controls; but not case-specific known DNA reference standards or exemplars
Factual data that is based on actual measurement, observation or direct sensory experience rather than on theory.
An organism that lives in (internal) another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
An organism that lives in (internal) another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
A property of matter manifested as an ability to perform work, either by moving an object against a force or by transferring heat.
An exemplar image containing all four full-finger views for a single finger.(See Figure 4)
The process of air or gases being drawn into a fire, plume, or jet.