I. Introduction .........................................................................................................................
... [Show More] 2
What is Physical Evidence?............................................................................................................ 2
Types of Evidence ............................................................................................................................. 3
Types of DNA....................................................................................................................................... 3
Where might DNA be found? ......................................................................................................... 5
DNA collection.................................................................................................................................... 6
DNA tests.............................................................................................................................................. 4
DNA test results ................................................................................................................................. 4
Special case ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Evidence & Meaning......................................................................................................................... 6
II. Witness Statement............................................................................................................ 7
III. Investigation ..................................................................................................................... 8
DEATH SCENE 1: Bloody Mess Death Scene.............................................................................. 8
IV. Questions ..........................................................................................................................11
Course Objectives
a. Apply the scientific method, analyze a problem and draw conclusions from data and evidence. (Gen.
Ed.)
b. Employ chemical principles in laboratory analysis in the classification and investigation of physical
evidence.
c. Evaluate crime scene evidence including DNA, physical evidence, fingerprints, and blood to support
the crime hypothesis.
d. Formulate a reasonable explanation of crime scene occurrence based on the analytical laboratory
results from the evidence provided.
f. Recognize the roles of forensic scientists in death investigations.
Module Objectives: DNA & Bones
4. Discuss STR analysis.
5. Describe the difference between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
6. Describe a proper DNA collection and preservation technique.
7. Use qualitative observations of pelvis morphology to guess birth sex.
8. Use qualitative observations of skull morphology to guess birth sex and ancestry of a victim.
web-based version
I. Introduction
Frances Glessner Lee employed miniature artisans and used her own artistic skills to create
the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. These dollhouses of death are still used to train
investigators and are housed in the Baltimore Medical Examiner’s Office. Taking inspiration
from Glessner Lee’s Nutshell Studies, we created our own death scenes and photographed
them with a virtual reality camera. You will now investigate a death scene in a web-based
version of the virtual reality experience.
The focus of this virtual investigation is DNA. This virtual crime scene contains materials and
objects that can be processed to find and compare DNA evidence. Other items may be
meaningful without any forensic processing. These items can be identified as potential
evidence but are not the primary focus of this virtual reality experience.
This experience will be an exercise in observing, evaluating, interpreting, and reporting. For
purposes of this assignment, you are a lone Virtual Investigator who is working the case.
IMPORTANT: In this lab, the investigation has just begun. You have no access to a medical
examiner to determine the cause of death. As an investigator, you have no access to results of
forensic testing. In fact, you don’t even need to know the procedure for DNA comparison or
what the results should look like. During evidence collection in a real investigation, you will
not have any DNA results. Rather you must focus on the evidence and the logic of the
investigation. You will identify possible evidence to test for DNA. If that item was tested for
DNA, what if we discover a DNA match to the victim? What if we discover a DNA match to a
suspect? What would the result mean? What if we discover no DNA match? What would that
mean? What if we find no DNA?
The Virtual Investigator will do the following:
1) Observe: carefully observe the death scene in order to gain information and identify
items of potential evidence.
2) Evaluate: make judgments about the nature and/or value of potential evidence
3) Interpret: explain the meaning of an item (or set of items) of potential evidence.
4) Report: give a written account of the possible evidence, how it would be processed,
what the results could be, and what those results would mean. [Show Less]