Anthropology A211: The Genetic Science of CSI
1st 6 Weeks Summer 2012 (class #6177) MTW 10:20-12:15
Instructor: Dr. Frederika Kaestle
Need N&M Credit? Obsessed with CSI? Want
to know the science behind the forensic genetics
on these popular shows? Where are you leaving
your DNA? What can I tell about you from
your DNA (skin color, hair color, eye color,
height, disease, race….)? How likely is it that
your DNA will falsely implicate you in a crime?
Will your next speeding citation include being
swabbed for a genetic sample? Is OJ guilty?
Who is buried in the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier? Is there
really tiger bone in that love
potion? These and many other questions will be
addressed in this course.
Want a peek at
your own DNA sequence? We’ll
be sequencing DNA from volunteers in this
course!
General Information:
Increasingly, forensic science is featured in the headlines of
newspapers and lead stories on television news. Even more impressive is its presence
in today’s television series line-up. This course explores the genetic science of crime
scene investigation (CSI) through the examination of popular depictions of the science on
television (e.g. CSI, Bones, Cold Case, NCIS) and actual forensic cases (e.g. OJ Simpson, Scott
Peterson, the Romanov family, King Tut). Topics covered will include standard human forensic
genetic identification, use of non-standard markers for unusual situations, analysis of DNA to
predict appearance and race, unusual sources of human DNA, forensic uses of animal, plant and
microbial DNA, accuracy and misuse of forensic genetics, the use of DNA to exonerate the
falsely convicted, the ethical and social implications of forensic genetics, and the future of
forensic genetics. Mitochondrial DNA from student volunteers will be sequenced and used in
class activities. All course readings will be available as free downloadable PDFs, grades will be
based on course exercises, quizzes, discussion participation, and short writing assignments.
No
prior knowledge of genetics is assumed, and there are no prerequisites for this course. Carries
N&M credit.
