Forensics of a finger

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Richard Fangnail - 22 Mar 2005 21:10 GMT

Suppose you found a severed finger. Would you be able to tell which of
the four fingers it was, and which of the two hands it was from?

Could you tell the race or gender of the person?

(It was suggested in an episode of Monk.)

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tech27 - 22 Mar 2005 22:11 GMT

Interesting.

Gender for sure by DNA analysis. Maybe even race. But which finger? Good
question.

> Suppose you found a severed finger. Would you be able to tell which of
> the four fingers it was, and which of the two hands it was from?
>
> Could you tell the race or gender of the person?
>
> (It was suggested in an episode of Monk.)

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crosem@earthlink.net - 22 Mar 2005 22:39 GMT

if you mean a freshly severed finger with nail, etc, I could tell gender,
race, finger.
if dried up, all three by DNA and shape of bone, etc., I would think.

> Interesting.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>>
>> (It was suggested in an episode of Monk.)

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Volfie - 23 Mar 2005 01:57 GMT

> Interesting.
>
> Gender for sure by DNA analysis. Maybe even race. But which finger? Good
> question.

I think that the bone formation and muscle attachment/development would
indicate the finger. (Simply because some fingers are used more than
others. NO, I don't mean THAT one.) The thumb would be easy. So would a
finger with a wedding ring.

Giselle (Nail polish would help with gender but it's no longer conclusive.)

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David Wester - 30 Mar 2005 03:10 GMT

Would you like to "Biggie Size" that finger to a hand, sir?

> Interesting.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> >
> > (It was suggested in an episode of Monk.)

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earthage2002@yahoo.com - 30 Mar 2005 04:16 GMT

Can you tell if the person was dead or alive when they lost the finger?

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