Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree 180 credits in, biomedicine, chemistry, biology or similar fields giving relevant knowledge in genetics and molecular biology as well as chemistry and biochemistry.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• generally account for activities within forensic medicine
• describe the principles of forensic medical investigations and explain how these are carried out
• state different types of genetic markers that are used for forensic genetic analysis and describe how the results are interpreted
• describe and carry out different experiments that are used in forensic genetics and apply statistical calculations for evaluation of results
• apply, critically evaluate and understand problems concerning various types of markers and methods for DNA analyses
• identify and understand problems concerning various types of evidence materials for DNA analyses
• present forensic data as an expert witness in court
• present a research idea and to discuss scientific questions
• work according to scientific standards

In addition the student should demonstrate an understanding of a scientific approach, how to evaluate scientific investigations, how societal and ethical considerations are applied on research and how scientific results are communicated.

Content

The course consists of several parts, including forensic medicine and forensic genetics.

• Forensic medicine studies including an autopsy demonstration.
• Sampling, morphological studies and pathogenesis of death.
• Sampling and sample storage of crime scene samples.
• Extraction of DNA from different types of biological material.
• PCR-based analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
• Analysis of genetic markers of different types (SNP and STR-markers).
• Using different technologies such as PCR, quantitative PCR, capillary electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing.

Laboratory work: Laboratory sessions are highlighting forensic genetic analyses.

During a series of lectures (given jointly with other medical Master programs) you will also get an insight in a number of general science-related topics.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, seminars, demonstrations and laboratory exercises. Special focus is directed to stimulate the students to independently solve problems.

Compulsory parts of the course: Course introduction. All parts in connection with laboratory sessions, demonstrations and advanced assignments including group meetings, briefings and presentation. Joint seminars for Master programmes.

Assessment

Written examinations, advanced assignment (oral and written presentation), laboratory report (oral and/or written presentation) and additional exercises (oral and written presentation).

For a pass on the course, passed examination, passed laboratory course, passed written assignments and presentations are required.

Students who have failed the examination have the right to go through examination further 4 times (= total 5 examinations). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee can admit to additional examinations. Each occasion the student participates in an examination is regarded as an examination attempt. Submission of so-called blank exam is counted as examination.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

Selections: serial: 1. Admitted to Master's programme in forensic science, 2. Others in case of a vacancy