FSC533:FORENSIC DNA PROFILING AND BIOINFORMATICS

L:3 T:0 P:0 Credits:3

Course Outcomes: Through this course students should be able to

CO1 :: discuss the historical perspective of forensic DNA analysis and molecular biology of DNA

CO2 :: describe different techniques and methods for DNA testing and evaluation of the results

CO3 :: enumerate statistical knowledge and models for understanding DNA variations and
calculate probability of match
CO4 :: summarize forensic significance of DNA profiling techniques and its applications in
different cases

CO5 :: chart the role of bioinformatics in forensic science and discuss theory and practice of
database searching
CO6 :: illustrate population and statistical aspects of genetics and issues in paternity testing and
mixtures

Unit I
Forensic DNA profiling : DNA profiling- introduction, history of DNA typing, molecular biology of
DNA, DNA extraction- organic and inorganic extraction, comparison of extraction methods,
commercial kits DNA typing systems
Unit II
Different DNA profiling techniques : RFLP analysis, PCR amplification,, STR typing, Y- STR,
mitochondrial DNA, length polymorphism, sequence polymorphism, analysis of SNP, evaluation of
results
Unit III
DNA statistics : DNA Forensic Databases, Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Associated with DNA
Databanking, Potential Benefits of DNA Databanking, Quality control, certification and accreditation.,
DNA statistics- frequency estimate calculations, interpretations, allele frequency determination,
paternity/maternity index, sibling index, probability of match
Unit IV
Forensic significance of DNA profiling : legal perspectives- legal standards for admissibility of
DNA profiling, procedural and ethical concerns., status of development of DNA profiling in India and
abroad. New and future technologies: DNA chips, SNPs and limitations of DNA profiling., applications
in disputed paternity cases, child swapping, missing person’s identity- civil immigration, veterinary,
wildlife and agriculture cases
Unit V
Bioinformatics : Introduction, theory and practice of database searching, integrated information
retrieval, internet access, searching for sequence homology and alignment., Basic theory of
probability and statistics. Bayesian analysis. Likelihood ratio.
Unit VI
Population and statistical aspect of genetics : use of common software in molecular genetics,
FASTA and BLAST algorithm, population and statistical aspect of genetics, statistical issues in
paternity testing and mixtures, presenting evidence

Text Books:
1. HANDBOOK OF DNA PROFILING by HIRAK RANJAN DASH, PANKAJ SHRIVASTAVA, ET AL.,
SPRINGER
References:
1. GENETICS OF POPULATIONS by HEDRICK, PHILIP W, JONES & BARTLETT LEARNING

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