Although she hasn't settled on a program of study, Veronica's mother, Laurie, said her daughter has been excited about forensic science for weeks. On a recent tour of the Tucson Police Department's crime lab, Veronica learned what it takes to become a forensic scientist. For starters, job candidates must earn a four-year degree in any physical science such as biology, physics or chemistry, said Susan Shankles, who oversees the forensics unit. The rest comes after graduation. In Tucson the crime lab is broken down into three units, which focus on comparative analysis, serology and chemistry.
Comparative analysis requires an eye for patterns, shapes and color.
This is where documents are verified as authentic or forgeries. Bullet grooves are used to match them with a particular gun. And fuel is detected in items removed from a blaze where arson is suspected. Serology involves testing the DNA in blood, semen and saliva samples left behind by someone who committed a crime. How well that pattern matches a suspect's DNA sample can implicate or clear that individual.