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The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science

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. 

Displaying 2101 - 2150 of 3514
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Ngi

The FBI's Next Generation Identification, which provides an incremental replacementof IAFIS technical capabilities, while introducing new functionality.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
NIEM

National Information Exchange Model. It is a partnership of US Federal agencies. It isdesigned to develop, disseminate and support enterprise-wide information exchangestandards and processes that can enable jurisdictions to effectively share criticalinformation in emergency situations, as well as support the day-to-day operations ofagencies throughout the U.S.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
NIEM Biometrics Domain

One of the subject-matter domains of NIEM. It was established in July 2012 to supportbiometric-related alignment of XML standards. The Biometric domain develops astandardized data model and code lists that form the foundation of the biometricsschema within NIEM. The ombudsman of the NIEM biometrics domain is the convenerof ANSI/NIST-ITL, according to its charter.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
NIEM Subset Schema

The portion of NIEM needed for a particular exchange.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
Noise

Meaningless output occurring in electronic equipment; it is random electronic variation that is generated by and intrinsic to the electronic circuitry. It ultimately establishes the smallest analytical signal that can be quantitatively measured with confidence. A part of a signal that is not the target signal.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
Noise

High frequency signals caused by the instrument electronics, vibrations, and environmental factors.This is often determined by measuring a flat surface (e.g., mirror) which establishes the minimumfeature height (z) that the instrument is capable of measuring. Also known as Noise Floor.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 061 Firearms and Toolmarks 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality Control. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Noise
a part of a signal that is not the target signal. Discussion—In audio, image, and video signals, sources of noise can include film grain, electronic variations in the input device sensor and circuitry, and stray electromagnetic fields in the signal pathway.
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Noise Treatment
The mixed arrangement of tread block sizes used by the tire industry to reduce noise generated by tires.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Noise Treatment

The mixed arrangement of tread block sizes used by the tire industry to reduce noise generated by tires.

Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021 Best Practices for the Preparation of Test Impressions from Footwear and Tires. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Nominal Quantity Value

rounded or approximate value of a characterizing quantity of a measuring instrument or measuring system that provides guidance for its appropriate usei

i: Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM), International vocabulary of metrology - Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) (Sèvres, France: International Bureau of Weights and Measures [BIPM]- JCGM 200) available from: https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/guides.

Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 055 Standard for Breath Alcohol Measuring Instrument Calibration . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO , 2024. Source link
Term link
Nominal quantity Value

Rounded or approximate value of a characterizing quantity of a measuring instrument or measuring system that provides guidance for its appropriate use. (Source: JCGM 200)

Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 153 Standard Practices for Proficiency Testing for Forensic Toxicology Laboratories and Breath Alcohol Programs. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 , 2023. Source link
Term link
Nominal Resolution

The number of pixels per unit distance (ppmm or ppi) of the image. The nominalresolution may be the same as the scanning resolution for a particular image. On theother hand, the nominal resolution may be less than the scanning resolution if the scannedimage was subsampled, scaled, or interpolated down.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
Nominal Resolution
the number of horizontal and vertical pixels an imaging system or sensor is capable of capturing.
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Non-Associated Scent Trail

A pathway laid by a human subject whose scent is not associated with the scent on the article presented to the canine, or the absence of an associated scent pathway

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 027 Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Humans: Patrol Canine Team. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Non-Associated Scent Trail

A pathway laid by a human subject whose scent is not associated with the scent on the article presented to the canine, or the absence of an associated scent pathway

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 026 Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Humans: An Aged Trail Using Pre-scented Canines. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Non-Associated Scent Trail

A pathway laid by a human subject whose scent is not associated with the scent on the article presented to the canine, or the absence of an associated scent pathway

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 024 Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Humans: Location Check Using Pre‐scented Canines. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Non-firearm Tool

Any tool that is not a firearm.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 162 Standard for the Forensic Examination and Documentation of Non-firearm Tools and Non-firearm Toolmarks. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO
, 2024. Source link
Term link
Non-firearm Toolmark

Any toolmark produced by a tool other than a firearm.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 162 Standard for the Forensic Examination and Documentation of Non-firearm Tools and Non-firearm Toolmarks. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO
, 2024. Source link
Term link
Non-Indication

See miss.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
Non-Matching Scent Trail

A pathway laid by a human subject whose scent does not match the scent on the article presented to the canine, or the absence of a matching scent pathway.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
non-metric data

A skeletal variant or morphological feature that is classified categorically rather than quantified by a measurement (e.g., discrete, macromorphoscopic, or discontinuous trait).

Committee
Forensic Anthropology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 132 Standard for Population Affinity Estimation in Forensic Anthropology. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2023. Source link
Term link
Non-Negative Integer

The range of integers including zero and those greater than or equal to 1.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
Non-Photographic Image

For purposes of this standard, it is any image or model that is other than defined as aphotographic image. A photographic image is conveyed in a Type-10 record. A nonphotographic image is conveyed in a Type-22 record. Non-photographic images caninclude (but are not limited to) such diverse items as 3D point cloud representations ofthe face, radiographs, sonograms, PET scans and 3D orthodontic models. Note that 2Diris images are handled in Type-17 records and 2D friction ridge images in Type-4,Type-13, Type-14, Type-15 and Type-19 records; they should not be included in aType-22 record.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011. Source link
Term link
non-porous

A substrate that has no openings to absorb ink and requires an ink that will air dry.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 117 Standard for Examination of Stamping Devices and Stamp Impressions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020. Source link
Term link
Non-Productive Response

A change of behavior of the canine followed by a positive indication which cannot be confirmed by the canine handler. This may be the result of residual odor/scent that the canine can detect but which cannot be confirmed by technology or direct observation. A non-productive response may also be an errora false positivebut these outcomes cannot be distinguished in an operational environment.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
Non-Productive Response

A change of behavior of the canine followed by a positive indication which cannot be confirmed by the canine handler. This may be the result of residual odor/scent that the canine can detect but which cannot be confirmed by technology or direct observation. A non-productive response may also be an errora false alertbut these outcomes cannot be distinguished in an operational environment.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 092 Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Explosives. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Non-Productive Response

A change of behavior of the canine followed by a positive indication which cannot be confirmed by the canine handler. This may be the result of residual odor/scent that the canine can detect but which cannot be confirmed by technology or direct observation. A non-productive response may also be an errora false positivebut these outcomes cannot be distinguished in an operational environment.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 088 General Guidelines for Training, Certification, and Documentation of Canine Detection Disciplines. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2020. Source link
Term link
Non-Productive Response

A change of behavior of the canine followed by a positive indication which cannot be confirmed by the canine handler. This may be the result of residual scent that the canine can detect but which cannot be confirmed by technology or direct observation. A non-productive response may also be an errora false positivebut these outcomes cannot be distinguished in an operational environment.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 026 Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Humans: An Aged Trail Using Pre-scented Canines. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Non-Productive Response

A change of behavior of the canine followed by a positive indication which cannot be confirmed by the canine handler. This may be the result of residual scent that the canine can detect but which cannot be confirmed by technology or direct observation. A non-productive response may also be an errora false positivebut these outcomes cannot be distinguished in an operational environment.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 024 Standard for Training and Certification of Canine Detection of Humans: Location Check Using Pre‐scented Canines. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Non-Scene Data

Data from sources other than those collected from the scene of a fire or explosion incident.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
non‐regulated occupational testing

The analysis of specimens to determine the presence or absence of specific substances from employees that are not mandated under federal statutes.

Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 156 Best Practices for Specimen Collection and Preservation for Forensic Toxicology. AAFS Academy Standards Board, 410 North 21st Street Colorado Springs, CO 80904 , 2022. Source link
Term link
Noncombustible Material

A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the condition anticipated, will not ignite, burn, support combustion, or release flammable vapors when subjected to fire or heat.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
Noncompliant 3D Measurement

A 3D Topographic measurement made using hardware that does not comply with ANSI/ASB Standard 061, Firearm and Toolmarks 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality Control. The accuracy and precision of these measurements may be uncertain and untraceable.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 062 Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Toolmark Analysis. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
nonconforming work

Work that does not comply with FSP policies and procedures.

Committee
Friction Ridge
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 143 Standard for Technical Review in Friction Ridge Examination. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2024. Source link
Term link
nonconforming work

Work that does not comply with FSP policies and procedures.

Committee
Friction Ridge
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 168 Standard for Testimony Monitoring in Friction Ridge Examination. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2024. Source link
Term link
nonconforming work

Work that does not comply with FSP policies and procedures.

Committee
Friction Ridge
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 144 Best Practice Recommendations for the Verification Component in Friction Ridge Examination. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2022. Source link
Term link
Nonflammable

(1) not readily capable of burning with a flame. (2) not liable to ignite and burn when exposed to flame. Its antonym is flammable.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
Nonwoven Fabric
textile structure produced by bonding or interlocking of fibers, or both, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means and combinations thereof.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Normal Alkane
a subclass of aliphatic hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2 , with a single unbranched chain of carbon atoms; also known as n-alkane.
Committee
Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Normal Lens
a lens designed to approximate the field of view of the human eye without magnification or reduction.
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Normal-Phase Chromatogram
adsorption in which the stationary phase is polar in relation to the mobile phase.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Normalization Standard
an element that is present in the glass matrix at elevated and relatively homogeneous concentration that may be used to normalize the laser ablation signal to compensate for any variation on the ablated mass or instrumental drift.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Notches
Small void areas that extend off of grooves or slots of a tire design but don't fully cross the rib or tread block.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Novice Dog

See green dog.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
nuclear DNA

The DNA contained within a nucleus of eukaryotic organisms comprising the majority of the genome.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 046 Wildlife Forensics Validation Standards—STR Analysis. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2019. Source link
Term link
Nuclear Mitochondrial Dna Segment (Numt)

A transposition of any type of cytoplasmic mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genome of a eukaryotic organism.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 140 Standard for Training in Forensic Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, Interpretation, Comparison, Statistical Evaluation, and Reporting. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
Nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments NUMTs

Regions of mitochondrial DNA inserted into the nuclear genome over evolutionary time.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 111 Standard for Training in Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis for Taxonomic Identification . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020. Source link
Term link
Nucleases

Enzymes that degrade (break down) nucleic acids.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 023 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2020. Source link
Term link
Nuggets
irregularly formed grains without sharp faces or edges.
Committee
Seized Drugs
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
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