AP0503 - Body Fluids and Blood Pattern Analysis

You will learn through lectures and practical laboratory sessions specifically designed to provide the theory and laboratory skills to enable a full examination of an exhibit for a variety of blody fluids followed by a case specific interpretation of the value of any recovered evidence. Case studies and recent academic and government publications will supplement your learning, ensuring that your knowledge is situated within ‘real world’ experiences. You will visit our replica crime scene house, to investigate and put into context the complexities of body fluid examination within major crime investigations such as murder. The replica crime scenes will simulate real world experiences and enable you to visualise the potential, or otherwise, for the transfer of evidence between individuals and items involved in a crime. This will support your understanding of case assessment and interpretation, helping you to develop evidence based opinions based on forensic scientific and case specific knowledge.

You will be supported through active participation and discussion during laboratory practicals and scene house examinations. These offer a unique opportunity to fully understand the scientific theory underpinning the laboratory tests and the interpretation of your scientific findings.

All lecture and practical material will be available on the University’s eLearning Portal, supplemented with guidance on further reading relevant to the subjects.

Written assessment feedback will also be provided to allow you to understand how you performed and how you can build on this performance in subsequent assessments within your programme.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO1 You will be expected to engage with the theoretical and practical aspects of forensic body fluid examination to demonstrate how you can apply this knowledge to understand and evaluate your scientific findings within the context of crime investigation

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO2 You will develop your skills to justify your scientific approach, methodology and subsequent analysis of your observations in your role as a forensic biologist

The assessment will split between an examination strategy (40%) MLO1 and a practical assessment (60%) MLO2

The examination strategy (MLO1) will be designed to allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the assessment and evaluation of the evidential material available in a case scenario. The examination strategy will establish your expectations and prioritisation of key exhibits prior to laboratory examinations/ analysis. Written feedback will be provided via Blackboard.

The practical assessment (MLO2) will be designed to assess your understanding and approach to the sequential nature of body fluid examination and how you evidence your scientific findings and opinion in a written court statement. Formative feedback provided during taught laboratory classes will direct and support you to achieve this. Written feedback will be provided via Blackboard.

The combination of these two assessment styles will illustrate your ability to problem solve and accurately and effectively communicate your opinions through authentic assessment tasks that align to and support your overall progression through your programme.

L4 Practical Skills in Forensic Science
L4 Processes and Practices in Forensic Science

N/A

You will cover the identification, documentation, analysis and subsequent interpretation of body fluids such as blood, semen and saliva within the context of a forensic investigation. You will gain an appreciation of the complexity of differing case types, such as murder or burglary, and understand that each requires a different forensic strategy that is bespoke to the individual case, depending on what exhibits are available for examination and what needs to be established. The practical laboratory and crime scene based sessions will provide an innovative and invaluable learning experience to establish your knowledge of the expectations and abilities of a forensic biologist. The case studies and practical experiences that underpin this module will provide an authentic experience of professional practitioner based forensic examinations.