Students will learn about the process of analyzing, processing and collecting evidence from a crime scene.

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Students will learn about the different types of fingerprints left at a scene with plastic, patent and latent. They will then fingerprint themselves using an FBI 10 fingerprint card and process latent fingerprints on surfaces. They will "dust" and lift the fingerprints for analysis.

Student work sample

Students will learn about the parts of a piece of hair and how to identify it using a microscope. The students will then analyze hair samples from the crime scene and from the "persons of interest" in our case.

Students will learn about the science of blood and blood types. They learn about how to identify someone's blood type by completing a blood typing lab using Anti-A and Anti-B serum and simulated blood. Students were also given blood typing kits to take home to type themselves.

Students design and implement an experiment to determine the height at which blood droplets had fallen from above. They use this data to determine the height of an unknown set of blood drops.

Students will learn about the science of DNA Profiling. They learned about the process of DNA extraction, PCR, Restriction Enzymes and DNA Gel Electrophoresis. They used micropipetters to load samples into the gels and read the gel samples to see whose DNA was found at the scene.

Students learn about the process of autopsies and the role of the medical examiner. They will analyze autopsies to determine the Manner, Cause and Mechanism of death in the case.

Students will learn about the role of insects in determining the time of death in a case. They will also learn about the stages of decomposition in helping to determine the post-mortem interval.

Students will learn about the role of the Forensic Toxicologist in helping to determine the cause and mechanism of death. They will conduct a laboratory activity to identify a set of pills that the victim had taken.

Students will learn about the Manner, Cause and Mechanism of death as they conduct the final autopsy and autopsy report.