Download Snapshot – Course Outline

Anthropology 2235B-001: Individuation in Forensic Science
Course Outline Winter 2014
Instructor: Dr. El Molto
Office: Social Science Centre 3433
Office Hours: Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lecture and Lab Times: 2:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays
Place: SCC 2028
TAs: Tiffany Sarfo (SSC 3306) and Jose Sanchez (SSC 3304). Office hours to be determined.
Prerequisite: Open but Anthro. 2226A, biology and/or chemistry backgrounds would be useful
Required Readings: - Readings available in a course pack in bookstore
- power point presentations for each lecture on WebCT.
Grading: 2 tests worth 80% highest mark counts for 55%; Labs worth 20%.
Students are required to read the policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness
(https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm). If you miss either of the two exams for medical reasons a
note from the doctor is to be sent to the Dean of Social Science. Thereafter in consultation with the
professor a rescheduled time suitable to both parties can be arranged. Appropriate student responsibilities
will be discussed in the opening lecture. Cheating on exams results in a ‘0’! A detailed topic overview is
presented in each lecture’s power point!
Lecture Schedule
Part A – Background
Key Readings for each lecture in brackets
Jan. 7 Class cancelled
Jan. 14 Forensic Science Today: Death and crime scene investigations in Canada (#s1 & 8 and 13)
Jan. 21 Individuation Methods: Nuclear DNA methods (#9)
Jan. 28 Individuation Methods: Mitochondrial DNA (#3)
Feb. 4 Individuation methods: Forensic anthropology &Odontology (#s4, 11 & 12)
Feb. 11 Expert witness testimony with emphasis on statistical methods (#s4 & 13)
Feb. 18 Study week
Feb. 25 Test #1
Part B
Special Topics and Case Studies in Forensic Science
Mar. 4 Doing forensic anthropology 1 – trauma analysis (#s 4, 10, 14, 15)
Mar. 11 Doing forensic anthropology 2 – case studies (#s 4, 6 & 10)
Mar. 18 Case Studies in forensic DNA analysis (#2)
Mar. 25 Historical cases in forensic science: “The Titanic Project” (#s 2 & 7)
Apr. 1 Forensic Investigation of Mass disasters and human rights (#s 4 & 5)
Apr. 8 Course summary
Final Test: TBA
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Required Readings 2014
1. Anderson, G. 1999. Forensic Entomology: the use of insects in death investigations. In:
Forensic Osteological Analysis: A book of Case Studies S.I. Fairgrieve (ed), Charles C.
Thomas: 303-321.
2. Butler, J.M. 2003. Forensic DNA Typing: DNA testing in high profile cases. Academic Press:
253-270.
3. Chahal, A, E. Molto and J. Kenkel 2009. Mitochondrial DNA and Forensic Identification. In:
DNA: A Practical Guide, D. Rose and L. Goos (Editors) Thompson-Carswell: Chapter 7:7-1-734.
4. Dirkmatt, D.C., L. Cabo, S.D. Owsley and S.A. Syms. 2008. New Perspectives in Forensic
Anthropology. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 51:33-49. (Lecture 1 – Daubert Iinfo)
5. Doretti, M. and C.C. Snow. 2009. Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights: The Argentine
Experience. In: Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology. Dawnie W. Steadman
(Ed), Prentice Hall: 290-300.
6. Fairgrieve, S.I. and J.E. Molto 1994. Burning Point: Canadian Case Studies of Intentionally
Cremated Human Remains. In: Strength and Diversity: A reader in Physical
Anthropology:384-402.
7. Just, R. et al, 2011. Titanic’s unknown child: The critical role of the mitochondrial DNA
coding region in the re-identification effort. Forensic Science International: Genetics 5:231235.
8. King E.L. 1999. The investigation of Death in Canada. In: Forensic Evidence in Canada. GM
Chayko and E.D. Gulliver (editors): Canada Law Book, Aurora Ontario: 117-149.
9. McQuire, B.P. 2009. Update on the Law of Forensic DNA typing. Unpublished Document:141.
10. Melbye, Jerry, D. Chaisson, R. Wood and B. Bleninsop. 1999. In: Forensic Osteological
Analysis: A book of Case Studies S.I. Fairgrieve (ed), Charles C. Thomas: 89-106.
11. Molto, J.E. (Unpublished manuscript) Individuation methods in forensic anthropology. The
Basics (on webCT).
12. Pretty, L.A. and D. Sweet, 2001. A look at forensic dentistry – Part 1. The role of teeth in the
determination of human identity. British Dental Journal, Volume 190 (7):359-366.
13. Saks., M.J. and J.J. Koeher. 2005. The coming paradigm shift in forensic identification.
Science Vol. 36(2):892-895. (lecture 1)
14. Smith, O.C. E. I. Pope and S.A. Symes 2009. Look until you see: Identification of Trauma in
Skeletal Material. In: Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology. Dawnie W.
Steadman (Ed), Prentice Hall: 190-204.
15. Ubelaker D.H. and J.E. Smialek. 2009. The interface of forensic anthropology and forensic
pathology in trauma interpretation. In: Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology.
Dawnie W. Steadman (Ed), Prentice Hall:221-224.
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