Advanced Forensic Biology

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

Trace evidence is the domain of the forensic scientist. We deal with the recognition, the collection, the selection, identification, individualization and interpretation of the physical and biological evidence. In the forensic context: the perpetrator of a violent crime may leave biological traces at the scene of the crime and conversely take traces away. In case of a rape the rapist usually leaves his semen behind and may take away a hair or a smear of blood from the victim. Molecular biology has become one of the most dominant technologies applied nowadays in the forensic field.

The course Advanced Forensic Biology is designed to provide students with fundamental information on state of the art molecular biology technologies. Special attention will be paid to research topics that fall within the scope of forensic biology. The course concentrates on the nature and significance of biological evidence and the underlying (molecular) biological principles of scientific methods employed for forensic analysis and interpretation.

The course Advanced Forensic Biology consists of four modules:

I. Advanced methods in forensic case work
II. Forensic data analysis, genomics and proteomics
III. Forensic Epigenetics
IV. Research Proposal

Ad IV Research proposal:

The compiling of a research proposal by the students is an integral part of the course Advanced Forensic Biology. Your research proposals must outline a relevant research topic in the field of Forensic Biology and must contain a formulated research question, an overview of the existing literature related to the topic and the necessary research methods to answer the specific research question. The aim is to present a proposal with an original research idea and to show that you have developed a thought-out strategy that enables the researcher to address relevant research questions. At the end of the course it is expected that you hand over a written research proposal, present your proposal to lecturers and students and present a poster of your proposal at the CLHC symposium. During the CLHC symposium the best poster presentation will be awarded at the end of the symposium.

Study materials

Literature

• Module I

  PDF files from the PowerPoint presentations will be posted on Canvas.  Files for the hands-on lecture will be posted on Canvas. Details will be announced during lectures. The book from John Butler: Advanced topics in Forensic DNA Typing: methodology  is optional for this module.

• Module II

  Students will be provided with a reader and a number of relevant scientific papers. Details will be announced during the lectures and posted on Canvas.

• Module III

  To be announced on Canvas.

Objectives

• 1. explain the forensic potential of modern forensic DNA, RNA, protein and epigenetic technologies for applications beyond human identification.
• 2.critically weigh the forensic relevance and added value of an application in a case scenario. Applications refer to inference of physical characteristics, biogeographical origin, age and cell type and the role of prevalence, transfer, persistence and recovery of cell material in activity-level forensic questions.
• 3. apply bioinformatic tools to correctly analyse research data.
• 4. conceptualize a strategy to develop a novel forensic application in the format of a research proposal.
• 5. explain the proposed research in various verbal presentations that have different aims or audience.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Presentation/symposium
• Writing a research proposal
• Self-study
• Laptop seminar

Lectures, tutorials, exercises, computer practical, group presentations of studied literature and research proposals.

Learning activities

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER part B).

Additional requirements for this course:

Attending all scheduled education activities is strongly advised. By doing so, you actively contribute to a lively learning community and significantly improve your chances of successfully completing the course. The designated mandatory activities play a crucial role in achieving the course objectives and are essential for your overall progress.

Additional requirements for this course:
It is presupposed that all students will be present during the lectures. Students must inform the lecturers if there is an urgent reason for absence during one of the lectures.

The attendance during workshops and group presentations is mandatory. Absence will result in the loss of credit for that particular part of the course.

Attendance in week 4 during the presentations of the research proposals and the Poster Presentations is mandatory. Absence will result in the loss of credit for the course.

Assessment

All components will be graded on a scale from 1 to 10, with a maximum of one decimal after the point. These grades are used to calculate the final grade. In order to pass the course, all components and the final grade have to be sufficient, i.e. at least a five and a half. When a student has not fulfilled this requirement, the examiner will register the mark ‘did not fulfil all requirements’ (NAV) whether or not the averaged grade is sufficient.

The components will be weighted as follows:

1. Review a proposal (individual, 20%)
2. Presentation: Science behind the research proposal (group work, 20%)
3. Research proposal (60, group work%): verbal presentation (10%), report (40%), poster presentation (10%)

The final grade will be announced at the latest on WednesdayNovember 13th, 2024 (= 15 working days after the final course activity). Between Wednesday November 13h to Wednesday December 11th, 2024 (= 35 working days after the final course activity) a post-course discussion or inspection moment can be planned.

Table of specification

Table 1: Table of specification: the relation between the Learning Outcomes (LO) of the course, the assessment components of the course and the Exit Qualifications (EQ) of the Master’s Forensic Science (described in the Introduction in the Course Catalogue)

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Additional information

Students must have passed the exam of the course of Forensic statistics and DNA evidence. The Bayesian paradigm is assumed known.

Be aware that the poster you are making for the presentation has to be printed and that you as a students have to pay to print the poster. 

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. ir. Titia Sijen

I am best contacted at t.sijen@nfi.nl