1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key roles of professionals involved in the managing of crime scenes involving evidence of biological significance, including buried or concealed human remains.
Knowledge and Understanding

2. Evaluate the basic aspects of human identification, including identification of trauma on hard and soft tissue.
Analysis; Application; Communication

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the techniques in the collection and analysis of evidence of biological significance.
Knowledge and Understanding

4. Develop an ability to appraise the value of biological evidence
Analysis; Application; Enquiry; Learning

5. Demonstrate an understanding of how DNA evidence is collected, processed and interpreted, as well as an ability to accurately interpret DNA data.
Analysis; Enquiry; Knowledge and Understanding; Problem Solving

6. Demonstrate an ability to apply the knowledge of forensic techniques to case-based scenarios. Application

1. Practical Osteology Tests (20%): 2 x 45 minutes tests. These tests will tests will be employed to show skeletal identification and analysis skills. Practical test 1 will be a mid-term exam (Semester 1, Week 7) and Practical test 2 will take place towards the end of Semester 1 (Week 12). Outcomes 1 and 2.

2. Semester 2 Exam (30%): 1 x 1.5 hours. This examination will be used to demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical basis of the biological evidence associated with the investigation of human remains. Exam 2 will be submitted at the end of Semester 2. Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 5.

3. Reports (50%): 2 x 1000 word essays. The Semester 1 report will involve writing an osteology report based on the analysis of a human skeleton, which will be examined in the laboratory. In Semester 2, students will have the opportunity to write up one of four practicals (either body fluids, blood pattern analysis, knife crime, or sexual offences). The practical sessions will be case based and require the application of theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Outcomes 2, 3, 4 and 6.

Additional Assessment Details:
Each practical session will involve formative assessment and feedback opportunities. Students will also be able to access formative assignments through Blackboard activities and during specific interactive lecture sessions.

Understanding of the techniques and personnel utilised in body identification and identification of pathology, trauma, and taphonomy.
Identification of skeletal remains, including the construction of a biological profile.
Identification of body fluids at the crime scene through presumptive testing and an awareness of the availability of confirmatory tests.
Awareness of the types of blood spatter patterns at a crime scene, and how to interpret these patterns and relate them to the investigation, including scene reconstruction using 'stringing' techniques and pattern re-enactment.
The process of DNA analysis starts at the crime scene with DNA collection (including anti-contamination procedures), DNA extraction, DNA interpretation and follows through to reporting the DNA evidence in context to the case. Awareness of the various DNA databases and how they have been used in crime investigations.
Appreciation of related biological analyses, such as forensic entomology, hair analysis and garment analysis.
Specific case studies used where physical evidence and injuries such as wounds, burns and bite mark impressions can aid an investigation.

In Semester 1, students will learn about the techniques utilised in body identification and identification of pathology, trauma, and taphonomy. You will use a variety of osteological techniques to analyse human skeletal remains, construct a biological profile, and identify and interpret pathology, trauma, and taphonomy.

In Semester 2, students will learn about the process of DNA analysis starts at the crime scene with DNA collection (including anti-contamination procedures), DNA extraction, DNA interpretation and follows through to reporting the DNA evidence in context to the case. You will learn to identify body fluids at the crime scene through presumptive testing and an awareness of the availability of confirmatory tests; you will gain an awareness of the types of blood spatter patterns at a crime scene, and how to interpret these patterns and relate them to the investigation, including scene reconstruction using 'stringing' techniques and pattern re-enactment. You will gain an appreciation of related biological analyses such as forensic entomology, hair analysis and garment analysis. Specific case studies will be used where physical evidence and injuries such as wounds, burns and bite mark impressions can aid an investigation.

52 hours of lectures and problem solving classes will introduce you to the theoretical elements of the identification of human remains, skeletal identification, skeletal pathology, trauma, and taphonomy. It will also encompass evidence relating to bodies such as bloodstain pattern analysis, analysis of body fluids, DNA analysis and other biological evidence.

22 hours of practical based activities will introduce you to evidence identification and recovery from crime scenes, body identification processes, identification and analysis of skeletal remains, analysis of recovered biological evidence and analysis of trauma related evidence.

226 hours of independent study should be dedicated to researching background information related to the delivery of the core material, to preparing for practical sessions, completing formative blackboard exercises and to working on assignments. Students may also be given the opportunity to attend a post-mortem (subject to availability) and carry out techniques for locating buried remains to support learning.

Butler, J.M. (2010) Fundamentals of DNA Typing. London: Academic Press

Christensen, A. M., Passalacqua, N. V. and Bartelink, E. J. (2014) Forensic Anthropology: Current Methods and Practice. Oxford: Academic Press.

Gunn, A. (2009) Essential Forensic Biology. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

Jones, S.H. (2005) Principles of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Theory and Practice. Boca Raton: CRC Press

Butler, J.M. (2010) Fundamentals of DNA typing. London: Academic Press

Schotsmans, E., Márquez-Grant, N. and Forbes, S. (eds.) (2017) Taphonomy of human remains: forensic analysis of the dead and the depositional environment. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Squires, K.E., Errickson, D. and Márquez-Grant, N. (eds.) (2019). Ethical Approaches to Human Remains: A Global Challenge in Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology. Cham: Springer.

Blackboard VLE
Module Handbook
Lecture room equipped with PowerPoint, OHP and whiteboard
Laboratory capable of handling biological fluids

None