SPR 2014 Course in Forensic Genetics

[cid:image001.jpg@01CF32C9.FDE36FF0] New Course for SPR 2014 PHG 302: FORENSIC GENETICS TTh 1:30-2:40, Health Sciences T-473 SLN: 20804 I&S / NW, QSR Text: Goodwin, Linacre, and Hadi (2010) “An Introduction to Forensic Genetics.” * The FBI now has over 10 million DNA profiles in the National DNA Index. * There have been over 300 post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States. * The “Grim Sleeper” was identified because of his son’s conviction on a felony weapons charge. * Many of the remains of victims of the World Trade Center bombing were identified with the help of DNA results. * A database of 65,000 DNA profiles in Arizona had a pair of matching profiles, but the profile frequency was estimated to be one in 700 million. * In March 2013, the CITES Conference of the Parties decided to require DNA profiling for seized ivory. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is implementing this decision. DNA typing will be conducted by UW Professor Sam Wasser. * A Nevada forensic scientist testified that there was a 99.9967 percent chance that the DNA found in the victim’s underwear was the from defendant’s blood. This statement contributed to an Appeals Court overturning the defendant’s conviction. Biostatistics Professor Bruce Weir, an advisor to the Scientific Working Group on DNA Methods and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, will cover the genetic and statistical issues raised by these events. Introduces the field of forensic genetics through discussion of genetic and statistical issues emerging since the introduction of DNA profiling. Students develop the skills to interpret the evidence of matching genetic profiles; to perform calculations relevant for parentage determination; the identification of remains; and to consider the implications of familial searching of DNA databases. Prerequisite: either BIOST 310, STAT 220, STAT 221/CS&SS 221/SOC 221, STAT 311, Q SCI 381, or Q METH 201.

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