Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be in molecular biology, biomedicine, chemistry, biology, or a similar field of study that includes at least 15 credits in chemistry and/or biochemistry as well as 15 credits in cell biology, molecular biology and/or genetics. Also required is knowledge and practical experience of laboratory experiments in life sciences. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• generally account for activities within forensic medicine
• describe the principles of forensic medical investigations and explain how these are carried out
• state different types of genetic markers that are used for forensic genetic analysis and describe how the results are interpreted
• describe and carry out different experiments that are used in forensic genetics and apply statistical calculations for evaluation of results
• apply, critically evaluate and understand problems concerning various types of markers and methods for DNA analyses
• identify and understand problems concerning various types of evidence materials for DNA analyses
• describe the principles behind new methods within forensic genetics and explain how they are applied
• identify different issues and ethical considerations regarding forensic medicine and forensic genetics
• work according to scientific standards
• communicate scientific information orally and in writing

Content

The course consists of two parts, including forensic medicine and forensic genetics with a special focus on analysis of DNA analyses of STR markers and mitochondrial DNA.

The first part of the course covers forensic examinations, sampling and morphological examinations as well as pathogenesis and pathophysiology in the event of death. An autopsy demonstration is included.

The second part of the course covers sampling, DNA analyses, interpretation of results, application of statistics and quality assurance of forensic genetic analyses. Lectures address different types of markers in forensic analysis (mtDNA, SNPs, STR markers and methylation markers), as well as the use of different techniques such as PCR, Sanger sequencing, NGS, Pyrosequencing and fragment analysis. Information on trial planning and application of statistics. Through laboratory work, you will learn to perform extraction of DNA from biological materials, quantification with qPCR and PCR-based analyses of nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. An introduction to project planning and experimental planning is included and a research plan must be formulated as an assignment. 

During a series of lectures (given jointly with other medical Master's programmes) you will also get an insight into a number of general science-related topics.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, flipped classroom, seminars, demonstrations and laboratory exercises. Special focus is directed to stimulate the students to independently solve problems.

Compulsory parts of the course: Course introduction. All parts in connection with laboratory sessions, demonstrations and advanced assignments including group meetings, briefings and presentation. Joint seminars for Master programmes.

Assessment

Written examinations, advanced assignment (oral and written presentation), laboratory report (oral and/or written presentation) and additional exercises (oral and written presentation).

For a pass on the course, passed examination, passed laboratory course, passed written assignments and presentations and attendance at the autopsy demonstration are required. Joint seminars for medical Master's programmes.

Students who have failed the examination have the right to go through examination further 4 times (= total 5 examinations). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee can admit to additional examinations. Each occasion the student participates in an examination is regarded as an examination attempt. Submission of so-called blank exam is counted as examination.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.