MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

FOR106  2006 Fall – 2006 Fall

Forensic Science: Biological Evidence

1.

Define forensic science and criminalistics and identify the major contributors to the development of forensic science. (I)

2.

Describe the services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice system and explain other fields of forensic science that require expertise in a specialized area. (I)

3.

Identify the common types of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes and explain their evidentiary value including the purpose biological evidence plays in reconstructing the events surrounding the commission of a crime. (II)

4.

Explain the scientific method and other critical thinking methodologies and their use in forensic science. (III)

5.

Define physical and chemical properties and ways to measure and otherwise describe them. (III)

6.

List and define the basic units and prefixes of English and Metric systems and convert from one system of measurement to the other. (III)

7.

Observe, measure, compare and record chemical and physical properties, including color, dimension, volume, mass, density, attraction, refraction, ph and boiling point and identify and "rule out" substances based upon their chemical and physical properties. (III)

8.

Record observations accurately, using appropriate forensic science terminology. (III-VIII)

9.

Use scientific measuring devices and observation to obtain chemical and physical data and accurately record the results. (III-VIII)

10.

Interpret safety labels and use lab equipment properly and safely to perform a variety of forensic procedures. (III- VIII)

11.

Utilize scientific techniques and critical thinking skills to identify, compare and contrast blood and other biological fluids, DNA, hair and fibers, controlled substances and other toxicological evidence. (IV-VIII)

12.

Use the scientific method and other critical thinking skills for hypothesis development, experimental design data acquisition and analysis related to forensic issues focusing on the identification of biological evidence, including blood, bloodstains, other biological fluids and stains, hair, DNA, toxicological evidence, controlled substances and alcohol. (I-VIII)

13.

Apply principles, concepts and methods of forensic science to lab tests involving biological evidence. (I-VIII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

FOR106  2006 Fall – 2006 Fall

Forensic Science: Biological Evidence

I. Introduction

A. What is forensic science?

B. History

C. Crime labs

D. Career specializations

II. Physical Evidence

A. Common types

B. Identification and comparison

C. Individual versus class characteristics

D. Crime scene reconstruction

III. Techniques of Scientific Analysis

A. The scientific method

B. Physical and chemical properties

C. The metric system

D. Observation, measurement and recording

E. Substance identification and comparison

IV. Blood and Bloodstains

A. Composition

B. Identification

C. Tests

V. Other Biological Fluids and Stains (Saliva, Urine, Feces, Vomit, Semen and Vaginal Secretions)

A. Composition

B. Tests

C. Interpretation

VI. Hair

A. Composition

B. Species determination

C. DNA

D. Tests

E. Interpretation

VII. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A. Basic genetics

B. Population genetics

C. History of DNA Analysis

D. Composition

E. Extraction

F. Testing

G. Interpretation

VIII. Toxicological Evidence Including Controlled Substances and Alcohol

A. Applications

B. Substances

C. Tests

D. Interpretation