Overview

To view overview information, please select an offering from the drop-down menu above.

Academic contacts

To view unit coordinator information, please select an offering from the drop-down menu above.

Offerings

MURDOCH-S1-INT-2018-ONGOING

Other learning activities

To view other learning activity information, please select an offering from the drop-down menu above.

Learning activities

To view learning activity information, please select an offering from the drop-down menu above.

Learning outcomes

1.
Evaluate, analyse and interpret DNA profiles within an integrated statistical framework relevant to forensic cases and use these in synthesising and compiling written forensic casework reports.
2.
Record item details; indicate analysis and interpret forensic information in a format appropriate for presentation suitable for court presentation.
3.
Consistently display safe, systematic & accurate laboratory practice.
4.
Assess and interpret DNA-based results relevant to human forensics and animal product identification, including illustrative examples.
5.
Contrast and interpret suitable approaches that could be used in a forensic environment to analyse human and non-human DNA.

Assessments

To view assessment information, please select an offering from the drop-down menu above.

Additional information

Unit content:

This unit has been designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the technical and analytical features of Forensic DNA Analysis, or more appropriately, ‘forensic biology’. It is strongly focussed on how these methods are applied to forensic case work. The unit will cover; • Item identification • Molecular biology of DNA and STR’s • DNA profiling (‘DNA fingerprinting’) • Advanced PCR • Complex human STR interpretation • Y-STR profiling • Phylogenetic and statistical interpretation • Wildlife forensics • Degraded DNA • SNP biology • PCR contamination • Mass disaster identification • New technologies in forensics The unit has been specifically designed to enable students to critically interpret and understand the use of contemporary and new technology in forensic casework. Students will carry out the same techniques used in actual forensic biology laboratories. This will include extracting DNA, quantitating it, then conducting sequencing and STR analysis. It is important to understand that forensic science is multi-disciplinary – and BIO359 will draw on information covered in previous units, particularly the unit prerequisites. It is hoped the lectures and labs will provide students with not just forensic DNA theory but also a solid practical understanding of advanced molecular biology.