FRNSC 413Criminalistics: Biology

3 credits · Forensic Science · Penn State

Laboratory-based examination of forensic evidence; biological fluid identification, hair microscopy. FRNSC 413 Criminalistics: Biology (3) Laboratory-based examination of biological evidence typically recovered from crime scenes. Examination of biological evidence will occur according to established forensic procedures, including the identification of biological evidence and the performance of presumptive and confirmatory tests. Students will establish a laboratory notebook to document their findings. Since forensic testing ultimately results in testimony in a courtroom, students will prepare written reports of their findings and learn how to present their findings in a courtroom setting. The course will concentrate on the analysis of biological such as human blood, semen, saliva, urine, fecal matter and hair; including the employment of chemical, biological, and biochemical techniques to classify evidence. The course is relevant to any student majoring in Forensic Science or who has an interest in obtaining employment in local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies and crime lab facilities.