Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment:

CW: (80%) 5000 words. This report will be used to show understanding of the concepts and application of techniques from the biological sciences that are used in forensic investigation (Outcomes 1-3)

Case Study: (20%) 600 words. This case study will allow students to explore aspects of forensic pathology within a forensic science environment (Outcome 4)

Formative guidance will be provided throughout the module, mainly via tutor feedback and discussion with individual students each week during laboratory sessions, especially re results obtained, and their presentation, analysis and interpretation, and also via tutors dealing with specific issues in workshops.

The wide scope of forensic biology, including investigation of crimes against the person (such as murder, rape and other sexual offences, assault), endangered species, paternity. Biological evidence at crime scenes. Blood stain pattern analysis. Visualising body fluid stains. Collection and handling of biological evidential samples. Clothing examination. Body fluid stains. Presumptive tests for blood, semen and saliva. Extraction of body fluid stains. Microscopy of spermatozoa. Hair growth, structure and microscopy analysis. Conventional blood grouping. Determination of species of origin. Applications of microscopy to other biological evidential material. Basic forensic entomology. Overview of DNA profiling, its massive impact and huge potential. Professional aspects including hypothesis forming and testing, quality assurance and accreditation, proper documentation, presenting investigations to courts of law. The prominent role of biology in modern forensic science. An introduction to the concepts in ante-mortem and post-mortem pathologies using appropriate examples.

- Gunn, A. (2006) Essential Forensic Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Sussex.
- Jackson, AR and Jackson JM. (2008) Forensic Science, 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall.
- Langford, A. et al. (2005) Practical Skills in Forensic Science, Pearson, Essex.
- VJM DiMaio and D DiMaio (2001) Forensic Pathology, Second Edition, CRC Press

Module handbook
Access to a lecture room with projection equipment for PC-enhanced lectures with suitable blackout.
Access to library, computers and books
Blackboard VLE

Study of SHS82107-1 Biological Principles for Forensic Science or SHS80105-1 Genes & Genomes

11 x 2 hours of workshop and 24 hours of supervised laboratory practical. The workshops may include tutor-led seminars, videos, distributed learning and invited expert speakers. Full review of practical techniques, and data analysis and interpretation will form an integral part of workshops and practical sessions. There is 104 hours of independent study to include data analysis and interpretation, and reflection on methods being used.