Course: Introduction to Forensic Science

Having looked now at what DNA is, we need to look at how we undertake its analysis. The steps that take us from the body fluids stain to the DNA …

By now you should be (reasonably!) comfortable with how the genetics and biochemistry of DNA together with the PCR reaction can provide a forensic DNA profile that can point to …

This week’s information relating to the case study is about how BPA on the stains in the car contribute to the investigation. The identification of the two points of origin …

The PCR and generation of DNA profiles is technically complex. However, extracting your own DNA is very simple and can be done at home. The website has clear instructions if …

Previously we suggested that the level of knowledge of the basic sciences that are the basis of forensic biology will probably vary considerably across our participants. The same applies to …

The video begins with something that may surprise some of you – forensic DNA typing is not about identifying genes! Instead it is about inherited differences in the composition of …

The video opens with a summary of what you should have learned so far. We then see how the stringing approach described in the second YouTube video (given in the …

This very short video introduces us to the part that Blood Pattern Analysis can play in investigation of assault. We are now going to take a look at blood pattern …

We’re going to start with some basic biology and how we can use this in criminal investigation. Keep in mind the information you already know about the Case Study as …

Now let’s go back to the ‘Murder by the Loch’ case. Let’s see what the progress is in the case study. You’ll get some more information about how the investigation …

This video deals with the characteristics within a fingerprint and fingermark that are used in the identification process. But first we have to look at how such comparisons would be …

It’s very easy to take your own fingerprints and you can follow these instructions if you would like to try for yourself. After you take your own fingerprints go back …

Now we will look at some specific enhancement techniques in action! These are very common chemical enhancement techniques used in a mark enhancement laboratory and make use of a variety …

The next set of videos present information about the detection and enhancement of fingermarks. We will discuss the difference between visible fingerprints and fingermarks and latent, or invisible, prints and …

We begin with an introduction to fingerprints. As a biometric, fingerprints were one of the very first methods used in police investigations and the possibility that they may be used …