ForensicSpot10 modules
Forensic Biology
The biological evidence hub: cell and DNA fundamentals, the types of biological evidence, hair, bone and tissue, and how biology becomes a DNA profile.
- 60hours
- 30topics
- 10modules
Module 16 hrs3 topics
Biological Evidence in Forensic Science
What counts as biological evidence and how the field is organised.
Start module- The Scope of Biological Evidence in Forensic ScienceSurveys the major categories of biological evidence recovered at crime scenes and the legal frameworks that govern their use worldwide.13 min
- History and Development of Forensic BiologyTraces forensic biology from early blood-typing through the 1980s DNA revolution to genomic methods, via the landmark cases that shaped lab standards.13 min
- Forensic Biology Laboratory Organisation and AccreditationDescribes how forensic biology units are structured from evidence reception to reporting, and how ISO/IEC 17025 underpins court-admissible results.13 min
Module 26 hrs3 topics
Cell and Molecular Biology Foundations
Cells, organelles, nucleic acids and proteins for the forensic scientist.
Start module- Cell Structure and Organelles for Forensic ScientistsReviews cell architecture, the nucleus, mitochondria, cytoskeleton and membrane, as the physical substrate for DNA, protein and trace evidence.13 min
- Nucleic Acids: Structure and FunctionIntroduces DNA and RNA structure and base-pairing as the molecular foundation for extraction, quantification and profiling workflows.13 min
- Proteins and Enzymes in Biological EvidenceCovers protein structure and enzymes relevant to forensic biology, including presumptive blood-test peroxidases, and how degradation affects sample value.13 min
Module 36 hrs3 topics
DNA Structure and the Genome
DNA, chromosomes, genes, replication and the human genome at a working level.
Start module- The DNA Double Helix and Base PairingDescribes the Watson-Crick model, antiparallel strands and base-pairing, and why the double helix's stability lets DNA outlast most other biomolecules.13 min
- Chromosomes, Genes and the Human GenomeExplains DNA packaging into chromosomes, coding versus non-coding regions, and why certain loci in the roughly three-billion-base-pair genome suit profiling.13 min
- DNA Replication and MutationOutlines semi-conservative replication and polymerase fidelity, and how the resulting mutations generate the variation behind individual identification.13 min
Module 46 hrs3 topics
Types of Biological Evidence
Blood, semen, saliva, hair, bone, tissue and touch evidence as biological material.
Start module- Blood as Biological EvidenceDescribes blood's cellular and biochemical makeup as a source of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, distinct from bloodstain pattern analysis.13 min
- Semen, Saliva and Other Body Fluids as EvidenceSurveys seminal fluid, saliva, vaginal secretions, sweat and urine as evidence types, with detailed identification methods covered under serology.13 min
- Touch DNA and Trace Biological MaterialExplains how skin-cell transfer deposits low-template touch DNA, and the transfer, persistence and secondary-transfer issues that affect its evidential weight.13 min
Module 56 hrs3 topics
Hair as Biological Evidence
Hair structure, growth, and what hair can and cannot establish.
Start module- Hair Anatomy and the Growth CycleDetails the hair shaft's cuticle, cortex and medulla and the anagen-catagen-telogen growth cycle that decides nuclear versus mitochondrial DNA recovery.13 min
- Hair Examination and MicroscopyCovers the microscopic features used to characterise hair and why morphological comparison alone cannot provide individual identification.13 min
- Hair as a Source of DNA and Toxicological InformationExplains nuclear DNA extraction from hair roots versus mitochondrial DNA from shaft segments, and how drugs sequestered in hair record exposure over time.13 min
Module 66 hrs3 topics
Bones, Teeth and Tissues
The biological nature of skeletal and soft-tissue evidence and what it preserves.
Start module- Bone Biology and Forensic SignificanceReviews bone microstructure and its collagen-hydroxyapatite matrix, and why compact cortical bone beats trabecular bone for degraded or ancient samples.13 min
- Dental Tissue and Its Forensic ApplicationsDescribes enamel, dentine and cementum biology and why teeth are among the most durable DNA sources in skeletonised remains.13 min
- Soft Tissue Preservation and DecompositionOutlines post-mortem change from autolysis through adipocere and mummification, and what biological material each decomposition pathway still yields.13 min
Module 76 hrs3 topics
Plant, Insect and Microbial Evidence
An overview of botanical, entomological and microbial evidence, with links out.
Start module- Botanical Evidence: An OverviewIntroduces pollen, seeds, wood, diatoms and plant macrofossils as evidence linking a suspect or victim to a location, with detail in forensic botany.13 min
- Entomological Evidence and Post-Mortem Interval EstimationSummarises how insect colonisation succession estimates the post-mortem interval and yields trace DNA, with detail in forensic entomology.13 min
- Microbial and Microbiome Evidence in Forensic CasesIntroduces the forensic microbiome, from post-mortem succession to soil and host microbiota, and today's limits on courtroom admissibility.13 min
Module 86 hrs3 topics
Wildlife and Non-human Biology
Non-human biological evidence and the wildlife-forensics interface.
Start module- Non-Human DNA and Species IdentificationExplains how human-identification tools extend to animal, plant and fungal material via cytochrome b barcoding and validated reference databases.13 min
- Wildlife Crime and Biological EvidenceDescribes the biological evidence in wildlife-trafficking cases and the lab methods linking it to protected species, detailed under wildlife forensics.13 min
- Companion Animal and Veterinary Forensic BiologyCovers pet hair, saliva and blood as evidence in cruelty and criminal cases, plus species-specific reference databases and transfer dynamics.13 min
Module 96 hrs3 topics
Collection, Preservation and Degradation
How biological evidence is collected, stored, and how it degrades.
Start module- Biological Evidence Collection ProtocolsDescribes standardised scene-recovery procedures, swabbing, cutting and alternate light sources, with an emphasis on chain of custody and contamination control.13 min
- Packaging, Storage and the Cold Chain for Biological EvidenceExplains drying and packaging requirements plus cold-chain temperature rules, and how breaches accelerate degradation or invalidate DNA results.13 min
- DNA Degradation: Mechanisms, Inhibitors and Environmental EffectsCovers hydrolysis, oxidation and microbial nuclease activity that degrade DNA, plus common PCR inhibitors and how labs work around them.13 min
Module 106 hrs3 topics
From Biology to DNA Profiling
How biological samples are turned into DNA profiles, bridging to biotechnology.
Start module- Biological Sample Screening and Presumptive TestsDescribes presumptive and confirmatory tests, from chemiluminescent blood tests to PSA assays, that guide sample prioritisation before DNA extraction.13 min
- DNA Extraction and Quantification from Biological EvidenceOutlines organic, Chelex and solid-phase extraction and real-time PCR quantification, bridging to the amplification workflows in forensic biotechnology.13 min
- Interpreting Biological Evidence in CourtAddresses how findings reach court through expert testimony, likelihood ratios and probabilistic genotyping, and the limits that keep claims from overstating.13 min