What are distinct differences in physical evidence that allow it to be associated with a single source called?

The term that refers to distinct differences in physical evidence that allow it to be associated with a single source is known as individual characteristics. Individual characteristics are unique and can be attributed to a specific object or person, making the physical evidence distinct enough to point to one particular source. This is crucial in forensic science as it helps in linking suspects to crime scenes through identifiable traits in evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA, or unique markings on tools.

In contrast, class characteristics are more general traits shared by a group of items or people, which do not provide unique identification to a single source. Associative evidence typically refers to items that can connect a suspect with the crime scene or victim but may not have the specificity of individual characteristics. Modus operandi pertains to the behavioral patterns of a criminal and does not directly relate to the physical properties of evidence. This distinction is important for investigators as they seek to establish connections through physical evidence that can withstand scrutiny in a court of law.