1. CRITICALLY EVALUATE AND COMPARE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX FORENSIC-RELATED EVIDENCE OF A BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL NATURE. Analysis, Enquiry, Knowledge & Understanding, Problem Solving
2. INTERPRET AND PRESENT PRACTICAL RESULTS, ASSESSING THEIR RELIABILITY, AND CRITICALLY APPRAISE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN A FORENSIC CONTEXT. Analysis, Application, Communication
3. DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL SKILLS IN THE USE OF A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF ANALYTICAL EQUIPMENT, TO OBTAIN RELIABLE AND ACCURATE RESULTS. Application, Learning
4. SYNTHESISE, EVALUATE AND APPRAISE INFORMATION ON ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES. Learning, Reflection

Each practical report will be from one of the practicals undertaken during the laboratory sessions in the CHEMICAL or BIOLOGICAL area. You are required to fully report and interpret the results of your practical and answer an essay style question relating to a theoretical aspect associated with the topic of the practical (50% of module mark covering learning outcomes 1-4).

This module will cover aspects of forensic biology and forensic chemistry, developing your depth of understanding of a variety of techniques and concepts.
Forensic Chemistry will focus on a variety of analytical techniques and will consider their suitability to and applications in, forensic science. Techniques covered may include; separative and chromatographic methods, spectroscopy, X-ray and electrochemical methods. Theoretical aspects are dealt with alongside practical to allow evaluation and appraisal of a specific technique.
Biological aspects may include topics ranging from the processing of recovered evidential samples, identification of body fluids and analysis of DNA samples. The processes involved in DNA recovery, extraction, quantification and analysis will be discussed, with specific reference to the current DNA profiling techniques used. Alternative types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA sequencing and Y-STR analysis could also be introduced. The statistical interpretation of DNA evidence will be covered, enabling an understanding of how DNA evidence is reported in a court of law. Additional topics that can be addressed are forensic entomology, blood pattern analysis and analysis of hair evidence.
The practical element will provide hands on experience of a wide range of analytical equipment encountered in forensic science. The main thrust is to provide experiments that allow comparison of techniques and methods. Examples of the type of experiment you might expect are: analysis of drugs to evaluate the potential of different chromatographic techniques, especially GC and HPLC, analysis of fire accelerants through the use of rapid GC (as a preliminary screening technique) then thermal desorption headspace analysis for analysis of a range of accelerants before and after the burning of materials to which the accelerant has been applied, analysis of barbiturates to compare and evaluate selectivity and sensitivity etc... of chromatographic methods with FTIR, analysis of environmental samples to allow comparison of a range of spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques (especially in their application to speciation) analysis of explosives to evaluate a range of analytical techniques. Examination of biological evidence including garments and body fluids. Skills in the analysis of animal and human hairs as well as blood pattern interpretation will be developed. DNA analysis, from different evidence types such as hair, saliva, semen and blood, will be carried out, including all stages of recovery, extraction, amplification, SGM+ profiling and mtDNA sequencing.

Take the opportunity to review content from Levels 4-6 and delve further into Forensic Science. Hone your skills in the laboratories for the opportunity to develop as an effective researcher.

Butler, J.M. (2010) Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing. San Diego: Elsevier Science and Technology

Li, Richard (2015) Forensic Biology Second Edition, Boca Raton: CRC Press

Rouessac, F & Rouessac, A (2007) Chemical Analysis: Modern Instrumentation Methods and Techniques Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Sussex

Journal of Chromatography A, Elsevier
Forensic Science International (Journal), Elsevier

Forensic Science International. Genetics (Journal), Elsevier

Specialist laboratory facilities.

Interactive lectures will provide the theory underpinning how a range of different methods and analytical techniques can be used to analyse different types of chemical and biological evidence.

Practical classes will provide the opportunity for students to put into practice the methods and techniques that were introduced in the lectures.