Topic Sequence for Forensic Biology

Semester One

Week 1 Introduction to Forensic Biology Chp 1 (Forensic Book)

Observations and Inferences

Safety Rules for the Laboratory/Equipment

Being a good eye witness

Innocence Project

Week 2 Metric System Chp 1 (Biology Book)

Metric measurement lab :Basic Measurements:

length (meter), mass (gram), volume (liter)

Metric Conversion Calculations

Eyewitness Observations

Week 3 Metric System and Forensic Anthropology Chp 14

Metric System

Height and Body Proportions Activity

Volume and density lab

Conversion Calculations Continued .

Week 4 Properties of water

What is Density? Sink or Float Demo

Properties of water/serial dilution/ ph lab

Crab observation and research

Week 5 Crime Scene Investigation Chp. 2 Forensic

Evidence Collection :Mock Crime Scene / The case of the Toxic Tea

Locard’s Principle of Exchange

Types of Evidence : Forensic

End of grading period

Week 6 Chemistry (Biology) Chp 2

Analysis of Jon Benet Ramsey Case; What went wrong? / Forensic Science Chp. 2

Elements/ Chemical Reactions / Parts of an Atom

Organic Carbon Compounds

Ionic vs covalent bonds

Week 7 Organic Chemistry (Biology)

Biomolecules- Structure and Function

Structure and function of Macromolecules

Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids

Food groups lab: Who took Jerrell’s cell phone ?

Organic Molecules

Week 8 Microscope Work .

Introduction to Microscopes

Types of Microscopes Biology

Parts of the Microscope

Correct use of the Microscope

Field of View

Structure of Hair Forensic

Week 9 The Cell Chp 7 (Biology)

Structure and Function a of the Cell

Cell Theory/ Eukaryote Vs. Prokaryote

Cell Lab Activity : Protists

Week 10 Cell Transport and cell respiration Chp 7/8 (Biology)

Diffusion, Osmosis, Active Transport

Cell size : Surface Vs. Volume

Osmosis and Active Transport

Cellular Respiration

Anaerobic Respiration

Week 11 Mitosis Chp 10 (Biology)

The Cell Cycle

Stages of Cell Division

Regulating the Cell Cycle : Cancer

Week 12 DNA Structure Chp 12 (Biology)

DNA Structure and History

Case Studies

DNA poster

DNA crime scenes/ Purpose of centrifugation

Week 13 DNA Profiling Chp 7 (Forensics)

DNA Replication

Micropipetting Techniques

The Break In

Thanksgiving Break

Week 14 DNA Profiling : Chp 7 (Forensics)

DNA Crime Scene

Gel Electrophoresis Lab

OJ Simpson Case

How to read a DNA fingerprint.

Week 15 RNA to Protein :Chp 12 (Biology)

Transcription and Translation DNA to RNA

Codon Dictionary

Extracting DNA from Wheat Germ

Week 16 Ecology

Food webs and trophic levels

Importance of predator /Prey relationship

Creating a balance : Island Biogeography

Week 17 Exam Week

Semester Two Topic Sequence

Week 1 . Ecology Cont...

Overfishing / Aquaculture

Symbiotic Relationships

Invasive species : Lionfish / Chromebooks

Week 2 Ecology: Population

Symbiotic Species : Lichen population count

K vs r selected species

Population density

Week 3 Ecology : Human Impact

Population Density Graphing

Tragedy of the Commons / Deforestation Wkst.

7 billion and counting video/ Human Populations and carrying Capacity of the planet

Cycles of Nature

Week Four Climate Change

Acidic Oceans : How is the water changing?

Plight of Polar Bears/ Google classroom

Carbon Emissions

Week Five Forensic Evidence Chp 4

Fiber and Textiles (Forensic) Cornell Notes

Types of Fibers : Natural Vs. Synthetic

Microscopic Fiber Analysis

Burn Analysis of Fibers : Who Committed the Murder?

Week Six. Meiosis and Genetics Chp 10 Biology

Meiosis

Mendelian Genetics : Punnet Squares

Forensic Fingerprint Analysis : Fingerprint Pattern

Week 7 Feb 26-Mar 2 Non- Mendelian Genetics Chp

Non-Mendelian Genetics: Incomplete Dominance and Codominance

Gattaca Movie : Genetic Engineering

Sex Linked Genetics

Pedigrees The Case of King Tut

Week 8 Mar 5- 9 Blood Evidence Chp 8 . Forensics and Genetics

Blood Groups

Forensic Mystery Case Lab : Blood as Evidence

Genetic Engineering

Week 9 Mar 12-16 Evolution: Darwin Theory of Evolution Chp. 15

A Dangerous Idea Video PBS: Darwin Biography

History of Evolution

Survival of the Fittest

Darwins Evidence for Evolution

Week 10 Mar 19-23 Evolution: Speciation Chp 15/16

Genetic Variation

Natural Selection : Cheetahs / Darwin's Bird Beaks

Sexual selection - sexual dimorphism

Genetic Drift Lab : Gene Pool

Process of Speciation

Spring Break

Week 11 Apr 2 - 6 Evolution: History of Life Chp 17

The fossil record : Fossil Hunter Activity

The geological time scale

History of Life : Following one branch on the evolutionary tree

Looking at Fossils

Week 12 Apr 9-13 Evolution: History of Life Chp. 17

Patterns of Evolution/ Mass Extinction Events

Adaptive Radiation / Convergent Evolution

Mass Extinction Events

Coevolution

Gradualism Vs. Punctuated Equilibrium

Week 13 Apr 16-20 Evolution: Human Chp. 32 Biology

Classification of Organisms : - Evolution of Body Plans

Hominid Evolution

What is a primate?

Hominid Evolution Video

Carbon Dating

Week 14 Apr 23-27 Human Anthropology Chp 14 Forensics

Characteristics of Bone, Biological Profile of Bones

Skeleton Identification : Male or Female?

The Romanovs : Identity of Bones in an Unmarked grave in Russia

Week 15 Apr 30- May 4 Forensic Botany Chp 5 (Forensic) Chp 24 (Biology)

How Forensic Botany is used to solve cases

Pollen and Spores

Anatomy of a Flower

Forensic Botanists

The Case of the Bad Seed Lab

Week 16 May 7-11 Photosynthesis Chp 8 (Biology)

Photosynthesis Equation:Chloroplast Structure and Function

Light Dependent and Light Independent Reactions

Leaf observation and classification

Week 17 May 14-18 Forensic Botany

Medicinal Plants

Poisonous Plants

Test on Botany & Photosynthesis

Week 18 May 21- 25 Forensic Toxicology .

Opioid crisis

Heavy Metals : Toxicity

Five schedules of drugs

Week 19 May 29 - June 1

Mock Crime Scene- How reliable is the evidence?

Forensic Toxicology : Drugs- Cory Monteith Case Study

Effects of Alcohol on the Brain

Exam Review

Week 20 June 4-8 Demonstrate your Knowledge ! Finals Week

Exam Review

Final Exams

End of Semester