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Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBI's Investigation of the 2001 Anthrax Letters (2011) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix B: The Forensics Potential of Stable Isotope Analysis
Pages 183-184

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From page 183...
... This continual cycle of evaporation and condensation makes the ratio of 2H/1H and 18O/16O lower for water sources that are farther removed from the oceans (the major ultimate water source)
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From page 184...
... . Exchange of water vapor with the ambient atmosphere could also be important if the agar was prepared in one location and used in another, or anytime there is a different isotopic signature of the water used and that of the surrounding water vapor, as in the case of studies at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where the source of the tap water is largely the Sierra Mountains and the ambient atmosphere can have a significant marine input (Kreuzer-Martin et al., 2005)
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Key Terms

  • growth medium
  • ocean water
  • ambient atmosphere
  • isotopic signature
  • water vapor

  • water line
  • significant marine
  • resultant maps
  • condensation makes
  • cultures depends

  • versus winter
  • summer versus
  • sierra mountains
  • tap water
  • culture water

  • bacteria cultures
  • water sources
  • microorganisms record
  • liquid cultures
  • major ultimate

  • reverse process
  • values mean
  • resultant spores
  • marine input
  • negative values

  • individual circumstances
  • winter precipitation
  • linear relationships
  • culture medium
  • local linear


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