Biological Evidence and Serology

Module code: CH7901

This module covers the basic processes involved in crime scene investigation and processing. It enables students to know the techniques used in locating biological evidence and appropriate storage for biological samples, to know the tests conducted in the field and in the laboratory for the preliminary and confirmatory identification of biological fluids. Students will be able to understand the principles behind the techniques of species identification, the basic principles of inheritance and blood group distribution within a population, the mechanisms of and advantages and limitations of electrophoretic techniques used routinely in forensic identification, the function of blood spatter interpretation in crime scene reconstruction, the legal and forensic implications of biological evidence and the limitations of data interpretation for courtroom testimony. They will become familiar with the identifying blood groups used routinely in forensic investigations and will know the characteristics of commonly encountered biochemical markers of individuality used in forensic identification.