Introduction to Forensic Science
Description
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About this course: 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 questions which we will attempt to address include: How did forensics come about? What is the role of forensics in police work? Can these methods be used in non-criminal areas? Blood. What is it? How can traces of blood be found and used in evidence? Is DNA chemistry really so powerful? What happens (biologically and chemically) if someone tries to poison …
Frequently asked questions
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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan .
- Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
- Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.
About this course: 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 questions which we will attempt to address include: How did forensics come about? What is the role of forensics in police work? Can these methods be used in non-criminal areas? Blood. What is it? How can traces of blood be found and used in evidence? Is DNA chemistry really so powerful? What happens (biologically and chemically) if someone tries to poison me? What happens if I try to poison myself? How can we tell how long someone has been dead? What if they have been dead for a really long time? Can a little piece of a carpet fluff, or a single hair, convict someone? Was Emperor Napoleon murdered by the perfidious British, or killed by his wallpaper? *For Nanyang Technological University (NTU) students, please be noted that this course will no longer be eligible for credit transfer.
Created by: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore-
Taught by: Roderick Bates , Associate Professor
Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry | School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences
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Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Young and research-intensive, Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) is ranked 13th globally. It is also placed 1st amongst the world’s best young universities. NTU has about 33,000 students in the colleges of engineering, science, business, education, humanities, arts, social sciences. Its medical school is set up jointly with Imperial College London. A melting pot of international award-winning scientists, young talents and eminent global partners, NTU is also home to several world-class research institutes that builds on its strengths in interdisciplinary research.Syllabus
WEEK 1
Information
7 readings expand
- Reading: Course Overview
- Reading: Connect With Us
- Reading: Your Instructor
- Reading: Glossary
- Reading: Recommended Readings
- Reading: Credits
- Reading: Code of Conduct
Introduction to Forensic Science
11 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Opinion Poll 1
- Video: Week 1 - 1 Basic Ideas in Forensic Science
- Video: Week 1 - 2 What is Forensic Science?
- Video: Week 1 - 3 Application of Forensic Science
- Video: Week 1 - 4 Limits of Forensic Science
- Video: Week 1 - 5 Locard's Exchange Principle
- Video: Week 1 - 6 Roberto Calvi Case
- Video: Week 1 - 7 Buck Ruxton & the Jigsaw Murders Case
- Video: Week 1 - 8 Forensic Laboratories
- Video: Week 1 - 9 Reconstruction & Re-enactment
- Video: Week 1 - 10 The Woodchipper Murder Case; Summary
WEEK 2
Chemical Analysis in Forensic Science
12 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Opinion Poll 2
- Video: Week 2A - 1 Introduction to Atomic Structure
- Video: Week 2A - 2 Structure of the Atom
- Video: Week 2A - 3 Elemental Analysis
- Video: Week 2A - 4 Analysis of Microscopic Objects
- Video: Week 2A - 5 Napoleon Case
- Video: Week 2A - 6 JFK Assassination Case
- Video: Week 2A - 7 "Adam" Case; Summary
- Video: Week 2B - 1 Introduction to Chromatography
- Video: Week 2B - 2 GC & HPLC
- Video: Week 2B - 3 Infrared Spectroscopy
- Video: Week 2B - 4 Mass Spectrometry; Summary
WEEK 3
Time of Death; Blood
11 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Week 3A - 1 Recent Deaths
- Video: Week 3A - 2 Decomposing Bodies I (Putrefaction)
- Video: Week 3A - 3 Decomposing Bodies II (Forensic Entomology)
- Video: Week 3A - 4 Analysis of Skeletal Remains I
- Video: Week 3A - 5 Analysis of Skeletal Remains II
- Video: Week 3A - 6 Ötzi Case; Summary
- Video: Week 3B - 1 Blood
- Video: Week 3B - 2 Tests for Blood
- Video: Week 3B - 3 Precipitin Technology
- Video: Week 3B - 4 Blood Spatter Analysis
- Video: Week 3B - 5 Lord Lucan Case; Summary
Graded: Week 3 (MCQ Set 1)
WEEK 4
DNA in Forensics
12 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Opinion Poll 3
- Video: Week 4 - 1 Introduction to DNA
- Video: Week 4 - 2 Techniques used in DNA Profiling
- Video: Week 4 - 3 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Video: Week 4 - 4 Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
- Video: Week 4 - 5 Colin Pitchfork Case
- Video: Week 4 - 6 Cold Cases I
- Video: Week 4 - 7 Cold Cases II
- Video: Week 4 - 8 Early Uses of DNA Profiling
- Video: Week 4 - 9 Mitochondrial DNA
- Video: Week 4 - 10 DNA Profiling of Other Species
- Video: Week 4 - 11 Peter Falconio & Joanne Lees Case; Summary
Graded: The Ang Mo Kio Case
WEEK 5
Fingerprinting; Polymers & Fibres; Firearms
11 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Week 5A - 1 History of Fingerprinting
- Video: Week 5A - 2 Principles of Fingerprinting
- Video: Week 5A - 3 Visualising Fingerprints
- Video: Week 5A - 4 Brandon Mayfield Case; Summary
- Video: Week 5B - 1 Introduction to Polymers & Fibres
- Video: Week 5B - 2 Natural Polymers
- Video: Week 5B - 3 Hair
- Video: Week 5B - 4 Wayne Williams Case
- Video: Week 5B - 5 Sarah Payne Case; Summary
- Video: Week 5C - 1 Internal Ballistics
- Video: Week 5C - 2 Gun Shot Residue; Summary
Graded: Week 5 (MCQ Set 2)
WEEK 6
Narcotics
7 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Opinion Poll 4
- Video: Week 6 - 1 Types of Illegal Drugs
- Video: Week 6 - 2 Cocaine
- Video: Week 6 - 3 Opium, Morphine & Heroin
- Video: Week 6 - 4 Synthetic Drugs
- Video: Week 6 - 5 Analogs
- Video: Week 6 - 6 Detection and Identification of Drugs; Summary
Graded: Ruritania Case Study, "The Sturgkh Assassination"
WEEK 7
Toxicology
12 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Week 7 - 1 Introduction to Toxicology
- Video: Week 7 - 2 Deliberate & Accidental Poisoning
- Video: Week 7 - 3 Toxins & Biological Poisons
- Video: Week 7 - 4 LD50
- Video: Week 7 - 5 Forensic Toxicology
- Video: Week 7 - 6 Alcohol
- Video: Week 7 - 7 Inorganic Poisons - Arsenic
- Video: Week 7 - 8 Inorganic Poisons - Thallium
- Video: Week 7 - 9 Inorganic Poisons - Barium
- Video: Week 7 - 10 Nerve Agents
- Video: Week 7 - 11 Georgi Markov Case
- Video: Week 7 - 12 Alexander Litvinenko Case; Summary
Graded: Week 7 (MCQ Set 3)
WEEK 8
Case Studies
8 videos, 1 reading expand
- Reading: Lecture Materials
- Video: Opinion Poll 5
- Video: Week 8 - 1 King Richard III Case
- Video: Week 8 - 2 Annie Le Case
- Video: Week 8 - 3 June Devaney Case
- Video: Week 8 - 4 JonBenét Ramsey Case
- Video: Week 8 - 5 The Unabomber Case; Psychological Profiling
- Video: Week 8 - 6 The Soham Murders Case
- Video: Week 8 - 7 Dr. Crippen Case
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