Introduction to Forensic Science

开始时间: 04/22/2022 持续时间: Unknown

所在平台: CourseraArchive

课程类别: 生物与生命科学

大学或机构: Nanyang Technological University(南洋理工大学)

授课老师: Roderick Wayland Bates

课程主页: https://www.coursera.org/course/ntufsc

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课程详情

We have all seen forensic scientists in TV shows, but how do they really work? What is the science behind their work?

The course aims to explain the scientific principles and techniques behind the work of forensic scientists and will be illustrated with numerous case studies from Singapore and around the world.

Some topics to be included are:
1. How did forensics come about? What is the role of forensics in policework? Can these methods be used in non-criminal areas?

2. Blood. What is it? How can traces of blood be found and used in evidence?

3. Is DNA chemistry really so powerful?

4. What happens (biologically and chemically) if someone tries to poison me? What happens if I try to poison myself?

5. How can we tell how long someone has been dead? What if they have been dead for a really long time…..?

6. Can a little piece of a carpet fluff or a single hair convict someone?

7. Was the (ex-)Emperor Napoleon murdered by the perfidious British, or killed by his wallpaper?

课程大纲

1. Introduction
The first section illustrates the scope and diversity of forensic science, and places it in its legal context. Basic ideas, such as association and reconstruction are discussed, the all important Locard exchange principle is expounded and some of the limits of forensic science are suggested. The ideas in the Introduction underpin all subsequent sections.

Case studies in this section: Walter Dinivan and Jetkor Singh; The Roberto Calvi case; Buck Ruxton and the Jigsaw Murders; The 2005 London bombings; The Brides in the Bath; Gareth Williams; The Wood Chipper murders.

2. Spectroscopy and the Structure of Atoms
This section seeks to link the concept of atomic structure with the methods for the determination of the presence of different elements in a given sample. This allows students to understand how these techniques can be reliable and sensitive.

Case studies in this section: The Death of Napoleon; The Kennedy Assassination; Adam, the Torso in the Thames

3. Chromatography and Molecular Spectroscopy
Some of the ideas of the preceding section are extended here, as they can apply to the analyses of compounds. The methods of Chromatography, Infra-red spectroscopy and mass spectrometry are also discussed. These are essential for later sections, such as Drugs and Toxicology.

4. Time of Death
The changes that the body and bodily remains undergo on time scales ranging from minutes to centuries are key to determining the time of death. These are surveyed in this section.

Case studies in this section: Peter Thomas; Danielle van Dam; Ötzi.

5. Blood
Blood will be spilled in violent crimes. In this section, methods to identify and individualise blood are discussed, but DNA methods are left to a separate section. The information that can be deduced from blood spatter is discussed.

Case studies in this section: Christopher Nudds; Lord Lucan

6. Drugs
A survey of some of the more significant drugs is presented.

7. DNA
DNA has become essential and ubiquitous in forensic science. The nature of DNA and how it can be employed are presented in this section. The section includes the first DNA case, cold cases, paternity and maternity testing, mitochondrial DNA and several other topics.

Case studies in this section: Colin Pitchfork, The Identification of the Last Tsar of Russia; The story of Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees.

8. Toxicology
Poisoning, accidental, deliberate or occupational dates back into the lists of antiquity. In this section, different aspects of toxicology are introduced and Paracelsus’ concept of poison is discussed. Specific poisons, such as arsenic, sarin and thallium, are discussed in detail. Classifying harmful substances

Case studies in this section: Florence Maybrick; The Maine poisoning; Graham Young and his Strange Hobby; Paul Agutter and the Toxic Tonic; Georgi Markov and the Poisoned Umbrella; Alexander Litvinenko

9. Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting is introduced by a short history. The composition, means of visualisation and classification of fingerprints is discussed, and the question of faking them is raised.

Case studies in this section: The Pioneering Stratton Brothers; the Brandon Mayfield Debacle.

10. Polymers and Fibres
Fibres, whether natural or synthetic, make up a large part of our world and how they can be used in forensic science is the subject of this section. This includes discussion of the different kinds of fibre, how to distinguish and individualise them. The importance of hair is highlighted. This section draws upon knowledge from the spectroscopy and chromatography section.

Case studies in this section: Robert Curley; Wayne Williams; Sarah Payne

11. Firearms
Around the World, firearms are involved in many crimes. In this section, a brief history and explanation of firearms is presented. Forensic topics, including GSR and striations are discussed.

12. Case studies
The course comes to its completion with a number of case studies that highlight important aspects of forensic science and some additional topics.

Case studies in this section: The King in the Carpark; Annie Le; Peter Griffiths; Jon Benet Ramsey; George Metesky; Rachel Nickell; Ted Kacynski; The Soham murders; Dr Crippen

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课程简介

Understand how basic scientific principles underpin forensic science and can contribute to solving criminal cases.

课程标签

南洋理工大学 法医 法医学 刑侦

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