Forensic Laboratorial Sciences

Code:

MCF13_3

Acronym:

MCF13_3

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Forensic Sciences

Instance: 2023/2024 - SP

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Forensic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCF	28	Current Studies Plan	1	-	6	40	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The unit's main objective is to give an overview of the concepts, techniques and laboratory procedures in forensic sciences. This broad scope aims to bring general knowledge about the theme, reflected in the different perspectives of researchers and teachers from the various scientific areas of this unit. This course provides an introduction that covers the various areas of laboratorial forensic sciences to enable the development of various topics in posterior optional curricular units. This approach is mainly theoretical although supported in real cases presentation.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end the students will be able to understand the methodologies of the laboratorial procedures leading to the identification of biological and non biological material in forensic cases. Also a global overview is given on the validity of the forensic laboratorial proof (e.g., Forensic Genetics, Toxicology, Biology, Geology or Criminalistics).

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Forensic Genetics

Forensic Genetics at the service of Justice

Legal aspects of applying DNA analysis to forensic case solving

Forensic exams: biological investigation of filiation; Biological Criminalistics; Individual genetic identification

Genetics databases

Types of polymorphisms: autossomic STRs; STRs e SNPs of Y chromosome; mitochondrial DNA (HVI and HVII)

2. Forensic Toxicology

Samples of forensic interest, sampling and chain of custody

Xenobiotic metabolism and eligible exposure biomarkers to be used in toxicological analysis

Post-mortem redistribution

Pharmacogenomics

3. Forensic Botanics

Ecology and plant systematics

Xilotomy and timber identification

Notions of palynology and aerobiology

4. Forensic Geology

Analysis techniques and advantages of their use in forensic investigation

Identification and description of materials: in situ analysis, macroscopic and microscopic assessment

5. Forensic Chemistry

Sampling, separation and analytical techniques

Chemometrics

Mandatory literature

Terra Pinheiro MF; Genética forense: Perspetivas da identificação genética, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, 2010
Klaassen CD; Cassarett Doulls' Toxicology: The basic science of poisons, McGraw-Hill, 2007
Maureth JD; Botany: an introduction to plant biology, Jones & Bartlett Pub , 2009
Murray RC; Evidence from de earth: Forensic Geology and CSI, Mountain Press, 2011
Skoog D, West D, Holler, F & Crouch S; Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Brooks/Cole, 2003

Complementary Bibliography

Kaiser M & Scheiner PM; DNA-based prediction of human external characteristics in forensics, Forensic Science International, 3, 154-161, 2009

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes and journal clubs

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	80,00
Frequência das aulas	40,00
Total:	120,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence at a minimum 75 % of contact time.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final exame grade (0-20)