Forensic Chemistry (CHEM-441 & CHEM-601)

Forensic Science is an applied subject that integrates various disciplines of basic sciences, physical sciences, life sciences and medical sciences to resolve the criminal cases and legal issues. The current course is an introduction to the strategies that are used for the collection, analysis and the reporting of different types of evidences from the crime scenes. The students will learn how to apply their previous knowledge of the chemical sciences for evidence analysis and to help the judicial system for the delivery of justice.

Recommended Book: Introduction to Forensic Sciences, 2nd Edition by WILLIAM G. ECKERT

Course Material

01 Week 1 ; Introduction to Forensic Science and its importance, Introduction to crime scenes, evidences, suspects and victims.

02 Week 2: History and development of the subject over the course of history.

03 Week 3. Introduction to contributing disciplines; forensic Chemistry, criminology, pathology, entomology, fingerprinting, odontology

04 Week 4. Introduction and methods of analysis for the different types of evidences.

05 Week 5. Presumptive and the confirmatory testing of evidence. Presumptive tests for blood, saliva and semen.

06 Week 6. Blood analysis; bloodstain analysis and blood typing.

07 Week 7. Fiber & Hair Analysis

08 Week 8. Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology

09 Week 9-10. DNA Typing; VNTRs, STRs, RE digestion, Techniques like PCR, Electrophoresis, Blotting etc.

10 Week 11-12. Fingerprinting; Hery’s system, classification, analysis

11 Week 13-14. Forensic Toxicology; poisons, their classification and interaction with the body tissues, absorption, metabolism and clearance.

12 Week 15-16. Analytical techniques and their applications in forensic analysis