NNMK13003U Forensic Geobiology

Volume 2014/2015
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
Content

The course will provide students with an introduction to the application of DNA and species identification in a forensic context, through an intensive two-week summer school. We will focus on specific interdisciplinary forensic topics including wildlife genetics, human genomics, environmental biology, geology, entomology and botany. The teaching will be a series of lectures, exercises and group presentations, which will be evaluated during the course.

When the course is completed, students will have gained insight and skills regarding the application of the following research areas in a forensic context:

  • Cell biology – mitosis, meisosis, chromosomes, the central dogma
  • Genetics – coding and noncoding DNA, X, Y, autosomal & mtDNA, variants (STR's, indels, SNP's), DNA structure and regulation
  • Molecular biology – DNA isolation, PCR, sequencing, fragment length analysis, methylation analysis
  • Population dynamics and heredity (e.g. kinship analysis)
  • Genetic species and population identification
  • Anthroplogy - human and other species
  • Biostatistics
  • Human crime case samples
  • Botany
  • Entomology
  • Geology – soil analysis
Learning Outcome

Competences

  • Discuss and critically review scientific articles
  • Critically assess and analyze forensic data and present the results before an audience


Skills

  • Outline the current knowledge presenting the baseline for forensic biology and geology investigations
  • Describe the methodological advances and research within the different aspects of forensic biology and geology
  • Describe the different types of human genomic variations and what makes them useful in a forensic context
  • Describe the different disciplines encompassed by forensic GeoBiology

 

Knowledge

  • Apply bio statistical methods used in forensic genetics
  • Carry out a paternity case evaluation
  • Carry out forensic case-work evaluations

Scientific articles, handbooks, manuals and protocols will be available.

Knowledge within basic cell biology and genetics. Literature will be provided for self-studies before course-start.
BSc degree from the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen or similar.
The summer school will be based on a series of lectures followed by individual and group exercises. Specialist within the specific forensic areas will come and present. Students will be presented to forensic casework examples. A substantial part of the course will be preparation of a group work presented on the last day of the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 50
  • Practical exercises
  • 26
  • Preparation
  • 100
  • Project work
  • 30
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Portfolio
Portfolio: Evaluation of written reports and oral presentations. 50%.
Continuous assessment: Overall assessment of exercises and participation. 50%.

The subparts do not have to be passed in the same exam period. Both of the part-exams must be passed to pass the course.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Re-exam
Passed subparts of the exam can be reused in a re-examination.
If the part-exam: "Continuous assesment" has not been passed, the student must follow the course again next year.
Criteria for exam assesment

In accordance with the learning outcomes.