Hair and fibers are examples of which type of evidence?

• A. Trace evidence
• B. Biological evidence
• C. Chemical evidence
• D. Hair and fibers

Answer: (D)

Hair and fibers are small physical materials recovered from a crime scene, which makes them classic examples of trace evidence. Trace evidence refers to tiny amounts of material that can be transferred between people and objects and still provide important links between a suspect, a victim, and the scene. Analyzing hair involves looking at shaft characteristics, color, and structure, and fibers are examined for weave, color, and fiber makeup; both are often compared to control samples or sources to establish connections. While hair can contain DNA, the way it’s categorized in many crime-scene contexts focuses on its nature as a small physical material rather than a biological fluid, which is why it’s grouped under trace evidence. Biological evidence, by contrast, typically involves fluids or tissues with biological material, and chemical evidence deals with identifiable substances like drugs or residues.