INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC HUMAN GENETICS
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2015/2016
- Teacher
- ELISABETTA MAMOLINI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/18
Training objectives
- The Introduction to Forensic Human Genetics is a discipline that belongs to the life sciences and deals with the study of genetics applied to the detection of biological traces at a crime scene with different ways to highlight them (presumptive and confirmatory methods). The main objective of the course is to provide students with the basis for tackling the study and understanding of the genetic variability of the human genome, useful for forensic analysis. The student is guided along the way, because you get to the understanding of the relationship between the genetic structure and forensic analysis with an basic statistical approach to identify the perpetrator of a crime.
KNOWLEDGE
the student knows the genetic terminology correctly;
He knows the biological basis of hereditary processes;
knows the basics of basic cytogenetics (mitosis and meiosis)
He knows human forensic genetics, animal and plant
He knows the most used computer sites in forensic genetics
He knows the basic techniques for analyzing a trace of DNA
CAPACITY 'TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
the student:
You know how to properly use the genetic terminology;
You know how to evaluate the possible impact of forensic genetics in its reality,
sa look in the bibliography forensic sites suitable
He knows how to design an experiment
He knows the techniques to extract DNA from a human trace
KNOWLEDGE
the student knows the genetic terminology correctly;
He knows the biological basis of hereditary processes;
knows the basics of basic cytogenetics (mitosis and meiosis)
He knows human forensic genetics, animal and plant
He knows the most used computer sites in forensic genetics
He knows the basic techniques for analyzing a trace of DNA
CAPACITY 'TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
the student:
You know how to properly use the genetic terminology;
You know how to evaluate the possible impact of forensic genetics in its reality,
he look in the bibliography forensic sites suitable
He knows how to design an experiment
He knows the techniques to extract DNA from a human trace
KNOWLEDGE
The student knows the genetic terminology correctly;
He knows the biological basis of hereditary processes;
knows the basics of basic cytogenetics (mitosis and meiosis)
He knows human forensic genetics, animal and plant
He knows the most used computer sites in forensic genetics
He knows the basic techniques for analyzing a trace of DNA
CAPACITY 'TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The student:
You know how to properly use the genetic terminology;
You know how to evaluate the possible impact of forensic genetics in its reality,
He looks in the bibliography forensic sites suitable
He knows how to design an experiment
He knows the techniques to extract DNA from a human trace
KNOWLEDGE
the student knows the genetic terminology correctly;
He knows the biological basis of hereditary processes;
knows the basics of basic cytogenetics (mitosis and meiosis)
He knows human forensic genetics, animal and plant
He knows the most used computer sites in forensic genetics
He knows the basic techniques for analyzing a trace of DNA
CAPACITY 'TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
the student:
You know how to properly use the genetic terminology;
You know how to evaluate the possible impact of forensic genetics in its reality,
he looks in the bibliography forensic sites suitable
He knows how to design an experiment
He knows the techniques to extract DNA from a human trace Prerequisites
- There is no rule in the prerequisites, however, the student must have basic knowledge of genetics and basic biology: DNA replication,inheritance (mitosis and meiosis), differences between cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Course programme
- Theory
1) The human genome (2 hours)
- Cytology: organization of DNA within the cell; chromosomes and karyotypes
- Structure of DNA, genes and non-coding DNA
- The genetic diversity origin: mitosis and meiosis, recombination
- Regions of non-recombinant genome: the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA
- The variability of the human genome mutations and polymorphisms
- Polymorphisms of DNA in forensic genetics, genetic profiles and the systems used by the CODIS
- the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms
- The importance of genetic DNA database to use in forensics: nucleotide, haplotype and genetic profiles
2) From theory to practice (3 hours)
- Research of biological traces (blood, saliva, etc.) The inspection techniques and technologies
Tests for personal identification (classical blood genetic, generic diagnosis of species, ordinary sources of DNA)
3) Analysis of polymorphisms (2 hours)
- The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
-the DNA sequencing and interpretation problems of sequencing products
-The Real Time PCR (qPCR)
- Typing of SNPs
4) Analysis of results (2 hours):
- Allelic assignment and determination of the genotype; Software used in forensic practice
- Interpretation of electropherograms and interpretation problems in the typing of microsatellites
5) Statistics applied examination of DNA polymorphisms (3 hours):
Mendel's laws; The Hardy-Weinberg
-The Probability and probability in the individual identification surveys; calculating biostatistician in paternity investigations
- Outline of the legal and ethical issues; Genetic data and privacy
6) Seminars: DNA barcoding (2 hours); Analysis and microscopic identification of biological traces (2 hours); forensic and paternity (2 hours); Forensic Entomology (2 hours); Forensic facial reconstruction and Anthropology (2 hours)
EXERCISES (24 hours)
1) Consultation DNA databases: genetic database to use in forensics (nucleotide, haplotype, genetic profiles; CODIS and polymorphisms of the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA); Software used in forensic practice
2) Identification of blood group ABO and Rh; Identification of a blood track with the presumptive method with the Kastle-Meyer test
3) extraction from whole / blood stains DNA (the salting out method)
4) Extraction of DNA from cells of the mouth (cigarette) and hair-hair tracks (the Chelex-100 method);
5) End of extracting DNA from hair isolated with hair bulb (the Chelex method); Identification of latent prints with the method of Silver Nitrate
6) Extraction of DNA from plant food interest for man
7) Identification of the quantity of extracted DNA (NanoDrop / fluorometer); Preparation PCR protocol
8) PCR and PCR amplification by one SNPs;
9) Digestion of amplicons with restriction enzyme. Preparation of polyacrylamide gel
10) Load up on polyacrylamide gel some of amplified samples; staining with intercalating agent (or silver nitrate)
11) Display results, allele assignment and determination of the genotype Didactic methods
- The course consists of classroom lectures for 24 hours of teaching (4 CFU). The lessons are held weekly in the classroom and the exposure is calculated by means of slides on power-point and, for the better understanding of the topics, even the classic blackboard, with practical examples. 10 hours of the course were devoted to the seminars for Collegues on various topics concerning the Forensic Genetics Human program. 24 hours, equivalent to 2 CFU are dedicated to exercises that take place in the laboratory, with the active involvement of individual students.
During practice sessions will be given the experiment explanatory sheets in progress, with the material necessary to conduct the experiment in autonomy, always with my supervision Learning assessment procedures
- The exam consists of a written test to assess the skills achieved both in theory and practice by the student in relation to the approach of biological and biotechnological Forensic Science Human. Therefore also the workshop activities will be assessed according to the commitment and application of the students during the course of the workshop itself. The outcome of the will of thirty: the test is deemed passed with a vote of at least 18/30 in the written test.
With the exception of students who have difficulties, the exam is written and consists of 5 open questions, four questions on the theoretical program carried out and the first question on the test. The answers to the questions will be judged based both the content and for the appropriate scientific language. The maximum score for each of the points is 6. The exam is considered failed if the assessment is equal to 2 or less in two or more
questions. Reference texts
- Introduction to Forensic Genetics: Surveys of personal identification and paternity. Adriano Tagliabracci- Springer
It will be made also available for students slides of lectures, seminars and cards of practical exercises
