Forensic Medicine: Bite Mark Analysis, ABFO Guidelines and Indian Admissibility
Published:
Reviewed by Bismith B · 09 Jun 2026
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
26 May 2026
About this mock
Bite mark analysis sits at the intersection of forensic odontology, clinical pathology, and evidentiary law. This mock covers the full UGC-NET Paper II Unit X scope: the ABFO 1986 Bitemark Standards and Guidelines, the five-tier ABFO classification system (definitive, probable, possible, improbable, exclusion), the ABFO No. 2 right-angled L-scale and its photogrammetric correction targets, perpendicular and oblique photography protocols, UV and IR supplementary imaging, the double-swab saliva collection technique for buccal epithelial DNA, Type IV dental stone casting, the transparent acetate overlay comparison method, distortion factors (skin elasticity and laxity, post-bite oedema, wound healing and contracture), and the scientific critique from the NRC 2009 Strengthening Forensic Science report and the PCAST 2016 report on forensic feature-comparison validity. Hard questions hinge on single-parameter distinctions: ABFO tier definitions that differ by one confidence criterion, scale design features (L-shaped vs circular vs flexible), and which report made which specific finding about foundational validity.
The Indian legal dimension is tested through Krishan Kumar Malik v State of Haryana (2011) 7 SCC 130, the Supreme Court judgment that established bite mark evidence as admissible expert opinion under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 39 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023). The expert in that case was from AIIMS New Delhi, Department of Forensic Medicine, reinforcing AIIMS as the national reference centre for forensic odontology. Questions also test the deciduous (20 teeth) versus permanent (32 teeth) arch distinction and its role in child-abuse bite mark cases.
Topics covered:
- ABFO bite mark classification: definitive, probable, possible, improbable, exclusion
- ABFO 1986 Bitemark Standards and Guidelines -- photographic protocol
- ABFO No. 2 L-scale: right-angle geometry, grey patch, circular reference targets
- UV and infrared bite mark photography
- Double-swab saliva collection technique and buccal epithelial DNA
- Dental stone casting and VPS wash impression protocol
- Transparent acetate overlay and computer-assisted comparison
- Distortion factors: skin laxity, oedema, healing and contracture
- Krishan Kumar Malik v State of Haryana (2011) 7 SCC 130 and BSA Section 39
- NRC 2009 and PCAST 2016 critiques of bite mark validity
Allow 30 minutes.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 16 questions
Bowers, C. Michael -- Forensic Dental Evidence: An Investigator's Handbook, 2nd Edition, Academic Press
Chapter 6: Bite Mark Classification -- ABFO Five-Tier Confidence Categories
- cited in 9 questions
Dorion, Robert B.J. -- Bitemark Evidence, 2nd Edition, CRC Press
Chapter 7: Distortion Factors in Bite Mark Analysis -- Skin Laxity and Lateral Displacement
- cited in 2 questions
Krishan Kumar Malik v State of Haryana (2011) 7 SCC 130
Expert Witness Affiliation -- AIIMS New Delhi, Forensic Medicine Department
- cited in 1 question
Executive Office of the President, PCAST -- Forensic Science in Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods, 2016
Chapter 4: Bite Mark Analysis -- Foundational and Applied Validity Assessment
- cited in 1 question
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023
Section 39 BSA 2023 -- Expert Opinion Admissibility, corresponding to Section 45 IEA 1872
Open source - cited in 1 question
National Research Council -- Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, National Academies Press, 2009
Chapter 5: Forensic Odontology, Bite Mark Analysis -- Scientific Validity Assessment
How our mocks are built
Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the Forensic Medicine: Bite Mark Analysis, ABFO Guidelines and Indian Admissibility mock cover?+
Bite mark analysis sits at the intersection of forensic odontology, clinical pathology, and evidentiary law. This mock covers the full UGC-NET Paper II Unit X scope: the ABFO 1986 Bitemark Standards and Guidelines, the five-tier ABFO classification system (definitive, probable, possible, improbable, exclusion), the ABFO No. 2 right-angled L-scale and its photogrammetric correction targets, perpendicular and oblique photography protocols, UV and IR supplementary imaging, the double-swab saliva co
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: hard. Tier: Premium.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on Forensic Medicine, NET. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.