Course Objectives

• To gain knowledge of The significance of serological evidence.
• To know the importance of biological fluids – blood, urine, semen, saliva, sweat and milk – in crime investigations.
• To apply knowledge of genetic markers in forensic investigations.
• To know about forensic importance of bloodstain patterns

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to understand :

• The significance of serological evidence.
• The importance of biological fluids – blood, urine, semen, saliva, sweat and milk – in crime investigations.
• The usefulness of genetic markers in forensic investigations.
• The forensic importance of bloodstain patterns

Course Syllabus

Unit 1: Forensic Importance of Body fluids
Common body fluids. Composition and functions of blood. Collection and preservation of blood evidence. Distinction between human and non-human blood. Determination of blood groups. Antigens and antibodies.
Forensic characterization of bloodstains. Typing of dried stains. Blood enzymes and proteins.
Semen. Forensic significance of semen. Composition, functions and morphology of spermatozoa. Collection, evaluation and tests for identification of semen. Individualization on the basis of semen examination.
Composition, functions and forensic significance of saliva, sweat, milk and urine. Tests for their identifications.

Unit 2: Genetic Marker Analysis
Cellular antigens. ABO blood groups.
Extracellular proteins and intracellular enzymes.
Significance of genetic marker typing data. Sexual assault investigations.

Unit 3: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Bloodstain characteristics. Impact bloodstain patterns. Cast-off bloodstain patterns. Projected bloodstain patterns. Contact bloodstain patterns. Blood trails. Bloodstain drying times. Documentation of bloodstain pattern evidence. Crime scene reconstruction with the aid of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Practicals Credits: 2

1. To determine blood group from fresh blood samples.
2. To determine blood group from dried blood sample.
3. To carry out the crystal test on a blood sample.
4. To identify blood samples by chemical tests.
5. To identify the given stain as sliva.
6. To identify the given stain as urine.
.
Suggested Readings
1. W.G. Eckert and S.H. James, Interpretation of Bloodstain Evidence at Crime Scenes, CRC Press, Boca Raton (1989).
2. G.T. Duncan and M.I. Tracey in Introduction to Forensic Sciences, 2nd Edition, W.G. Eckert (Ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton (1997).
3. R. Saferstein, Criminalistics, 8th Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (2004).
4. T. Bevel and R.M. Gardner, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton (2008).

Session Plan

Session 1

Unit 1: Forensic Importance of Body fluids

Common body fluids. Composition and functions of blood.

Composition and Functions of blood

Session 2

Collection and preservation of blood evidence.

Collection and preservation of blood evidence

Session 4

Determination of blood groups

Session 5

Antigens and antibodies.

Session 6

Forensic characterization of bloodstains. Typing of dried stains.

Session 7

Blood enzymes and proteins.

Session 8

Semen. Forensic significance of semen. Composition, functions and morphology of spermatozoa.

Session 9

Collection, evaluation and tests for identification of semen. Individualization on the basis of semen examination.

Session 10

Composition, functions and forensic significance of saliva, sweat, milk and urine. Tests for their identifications.

Session 11

Unit 2: Genetic Marker Analysis

Cellular antigens.

Session 12

Cellular antigens.

Session 13

ABO blood groups.

Session 14

Extracellular proteins and intracellular enzymes.

Session 15

Extracellular proteins and intracellular enzymes.

Session 16

Significance of genetic marker typing data.

Session 17

Sexual assault investigations.

Session 18

Sexual assault investigations

Session 19

 Unit 3: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Bloodstain characteristics

Session 20

Impact bloodstain patterns.

Session 21

Cast-off bloodstain patterns

Session 22

Projected bloodstain patterns.

Session 23

Contact bloodstain patterns

Session 24

Blood trails.

Session 25

Bloodstain drying times.

Session 26

Documentation of bloodstain pattern evidence.

Session 28

Crime scene reconstruction with the aid of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Session 27

Crime scene reconstruction with the aid of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Case Studies

Case Studies