Module Descriptors
FORENSIC GENETICS
BIOL50467
Key Facts
School of Health, Science and Wellbeing
Level 5
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Harry Mountain
Email: H.A.Mountain@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 46
Independent Study Hours: 104
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- CLASS-TEST weighted at 50%
- LABORATORY LOG BOOK weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Learning Strategies
12 hours of lectures (possibly to include videos, distributed learning and invited expert speakers) 24 hours of supervised workshops and laboratory sessions of which approximately 6 will be tutorials related to the practical being undertaken and analysis of data generated by it.
There will be 104 hours of independent study involving data analysis and interpretation.
There will be 104 hours of independent study involving data analysis and interpretation.
Module Additional Assessment Details
50% three in class tests - about 40 minutes each i, ii, iii, iv
50% laboratory book (total 2500-3000 word) with analysis, interpretation and discussion of practical work. ii, iii
50% laboratory book (total 2500-3000 word) with analysis, interpretation and discussion of practical work. ii, iii
Module Indicative Content
Basic genetics ( classical, molecular and population) relevant to forensics - patterns of inheritance (nuclear and cytoplasmic), alleles and polymorphisms . Detection of polymorphisms, genes in populations. Genetic material and its isolation from diverse sources. The practical content includes some basic techniques of molecular biology related to DNA analysis and genotyping; including purification and gel electrophoresis of nucleic acids, hybridisation technology and the polymerase chain reaction. What information can be gleaned from genetic data? Lectures will give the scientific background to the techniques, a overview of the typing systems used (STRtyping, mitochondrial sequencing and SNP analysis, when certain systems are are applied rather than other ones, the significance and interpretation of the results. Laboratory sessions will give practical experience of procedures from DNA extraction to analysis of results.
Module Special Admissions Requirements
Study of SHS80100-1 Bioskills or SHS82107-1 Biological Principles for Forensic Sciences
Module Texts
A single text does not readily support this module. For the practical work an internally produced laboratory manual will give introductory material. A number of general genetics textbooks in the library will provide support for some of the theory content. Relevant articles, book chapters and videos will be available as a copyright cleared course-pack in the Learning Resource Centre to support the forensic topics.
Module Resources
Equipped laboratory, experimental materials, technical support and equipped computer suite. Video player for tutorial material.