90948 - Forensic Laboratory

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have learned the basics of the disciplines of forensic science such as forensic pathology, forensic toxicology and forensic genetics. Description of the basic methodology used by the forensic investigators for determining the cause of death and knowledge of the principles of human identification and the strategy for kinship analysis; interpretation of mixed profiles and low template DNA profiles, the principal applications of mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome analysis as lineage markers, the informed consent and the ethic issue of genetic analysis. LABORATORY: Characterization of the nature of a biological stain by presumptive and confirmatory test and determination of a DNA profile from the biological stain (DNA profiling). Interpret the results of a kinship analysis and of DNA mixed profiles, understand the meaning of a DNA profile match and employ statistics to weight the strength of evidence. Illustrate guidelines and recommendations for personal identification analysis and kinship testing adopted by forensic laboratories as well as the minimum laboratory requirements.

Course contents

Crime scene investigation, Blood Stain Pattern analysis, body fluid identification in forensic

Methods in Forensic Genetics: DNA extraction, Quantitation by HID kits and Amplification in multiplex PCR, DNA profiling in human identification and kinship analysis, Sequencing of nuDNA and mtDNA, lineage markers in forensic genetics, interpretation of complex and Low Template DNA profiles, biostatistical evaluation in kinship/paternity testing and personal identification

Methods in Forensic Toxicology: definition of toxic substances and drug-related deaths, intentional and accidental fatal/non-fatal intoxications, acute and chronic effects of drug abuse, sampling methods and pre-analytical phases, analysis of biological and non-biological samples, techniques of analysis

Recent advances in forensic genetics (MPS and new markers),DNA phenotyping and SNP markers, Epigenetics and DNA methylation

Guidelines and recommendations in forensic analysis, National DNA databases

Pharmacogenetics in forensic sciences

Good practice in forensic genetics labs: ISO9001:2015 and general accreditation requirements (European Standard EN/ISO/IEC 17025) in a forensic lab

Readings/Bibliography

J. Butler Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing

R.B. Dettmeyer, Forensic Medicine - Fundamental and perspectives

Guidelines and Recommendations of Ge.F.I., ISFG and ENFSI

Original research articles and reviews on Pubmed

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons with slides assistance

Examples of real caseworks

Teaching laboratories

Assessment methods

Student learning will be assessed by a multiple-choice questions text and one short answer question.

Possibility of oral exam

Teaching tools

Slides and supplementary materials will be provided

Discussion of casework and biostatistical evaluation using the HID software

Office hours

See the website of Carla Bini