Forensic
Forensic Science FAQs
Q: What is Forensic Science?
A: Forensic science the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. A forensic scientist analyzes physical evidence and gives written information and/or expert testimony in a court of law. There are many disciplines and career paths within forensic science.
Q: What does a forensic scientist do?
A: Many forensic scientists work in crime laboratories. For example, a forensic biologist usually specializes in DNA analysis or continues to medical school to pursue a career as a medical examiner, a forensic chemist analyzes non-biological trace evidence found at crime scenes in order to identify unknown materials and match samples to known substances. A forensic geologist applies soil analysis to crime investigations, and forensic physicist works with trajectories.
Q: What are the other specialized forensic science careers outside the crime laboratory?
A: Forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, forensic psychiatry, forensic odontology, forensic engineering and so on.
Q: How do I become a forensic scientist?
A: If you wish to work in a crime laboratory, you must obtain a degree where you have a sound grounding in the basic sciences of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. For most jobs you must also have a masters degree in biology or chemistry. A major in criminal justice is not adequate preparation for a career in forensic science.
Q: I'm in high school; how can I prepare myself to be a forensic scientist?
A: If you want to get ready for this career starting in high school, you should take as many mathematics and science courses as possible, develop public speaking skills, enhance your writing skills.
Q: What are the services of a crime laboratory?
A: A crime laboratory usually includes five basic services:
Physical Science unit: uses the principles of chemistry, physics, and geology to identify and compare physical evidence;
Biology unit: applies knowledge of biological sciences in order to investigate blood samples, body fluids, hair and fiber samples;
Firearms unit: investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells and ammunition;
Document unit: provides the skills needed for handwriting analysis and other questioned document issues; and
Photographic unit: applies specialized photographic techniques for recording and examining physical evidence.
Additional services may include toxicology, fingerprint analysis, voiceprint analysis, evidence collection and polygraph (lie detector) administration.
Q: Where can I find more information about forensic science?
A: Visit the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) http://aafs.org/ or other websites listed under the Links section, or click here to contact us.
Q: What does a forensic biologist do?
A:
Forensic biologists utilize scientific methodology and analyses to investigate matters that involve public legal systems, including crime and civil actions. The majority of a forensic biologist's work occurs in the laboratory, but they often collect evidence from the "field" at crime scenes or other areas of interest to the legal system. This evidence can include human, animal or plant remains, DNA traces, physical material like clothing fibers, and other material that can be helpful to legal investigations. Forensic biologists have degrees in either forensic science or biological sciences with a focus on forensics, and they may work for law enforcement or government agencies, private and consulting companies that specialize in laboratory analyses, or at universities. You may think of the popular television show CSI and homicide investigations as the typical job of a forensic biologist, and indeed this is a common application to the field of forensic biology. Crime scene investigations often involve collection of human biological material, including hair, teeth, skin, blood and other human remains that can be analyzed for DNA to identify potential victims and suspects. Sometimes this biological material occurs in only trace amounts, and may be found from corpses, walls, floors, and objects (including murder weapons) at crime scenes. Samples are collected with swabs (similar to a Q-tip), filter paper, tweezers, sample tubes, and other specialized, sterile equipment for subsequent analysis in the laboratory. Some biological material (e.g., blood) can be identified at the crime scene with the use of special lighting or chemical sprays. Other similar applications may include assistance with autopsies to determine time and manner of death, and collection of physical or biological evidence from suspects in crimes.
However, some forensic biologists specialize in the identification of confiscated animal remains (e.g., horns, skins, fur, feathers, bones) to aid law enforcement agencies that combat illegal wildlife trade, including endangered species. Other forensic biologist specialties include investigations of animal cruelty and zoonotic disease, which are pathogens that can pass between humans and animals—examples include SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and West Nile virus. The latter field is an integral component of managing disease outbreaks, and other applications that are relevant to public health.
There are multiple other subdisciplines and specializations of forensic biology. Forensic botany involves the study of plant material and related DNA, which can be of use for investigations ranging from illegal drugs to homicide. For example, forensic botanists may link plant material found with crime scene victims to specific areas where the crime occurred, or even to suspects. Analyses of tree growth can also indicate how long associated human remains have been buried. Forensic botanists may collect material ranging from tree cores to pollen and leaves in the field, and then examine this material with microscopes or DNA analyses. Another forensic biology specialty is forensic entomology, or the study of insects and other invertebrates that are related to legal system investigations. This is a relatively new field, and often focuses on the life cycle of flies and other insects that are associated with crime scene victims. Based on the development of maggots in human remains, forensic entomologists can assist law enforcement in determining crucial factors such as time of death and even if a body had been moved from another location. Forensic entomologists can also conduct biochemical analyses of insects taken from bodies to determine whether drugs, poisons or toxins may have been present in the victim when they died. Other specialties include, but are not limited to: forensic serology (blood), DNA analysts, and blood spatter.
Training for forensic biologists, depending on the specialty, can include university courses in biology (including entomology and botany), chemistry, human and animal pathology, biochemistry, and DNA analysis techniques. In order to interact with and advise law enforcement officials, additional courses in the areas of mathematics, physics, and criminal justice are often included in forensic biologist training at the university level. Additional training may involve collection of evidence at mock crime scenes, and subsequent analyses in the laboratory. These analyses may include analytical techniques for the identification of blood and bodily secretions, DNA, pathology, and other forms of potential evidence. Such training gives forensic biologists a basic understanding of scientific principles, and standard practices for laboratory documentation with appropriate methodology. Courses in criminal justice instill a basic understanding of the judicial process, including criminal trials, and standard procedures for the handling and analysis of evidence.
In real-world practice, each forensic biologist is assigned to a specific case, and collects samples of physical evidence that are associated with that case. Appropriate analyses are conducted in the laboratory to determine factors such as species of origin (human, animal or plant), age, gender, time of death, and other data that might be useful to their case. In many cases, if samples contain viable DNA, forensic biologists will amplify targeted gene fragments using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to sequence DNA data that can be used to identify victims and potential suspects. These DNA sequence data can then be compared to online entries in the DNA databanks GenBank or Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Once these analyses are completed, the forensic biologist will write and submit technical reports (albeit in laymen's terms) of their findings to law enforcement officers or courts of law. Due to a recent ruling from the United States Supreme Court, attorneys representing individuals accused of a crime have the right to cross examine the individual who conducted forensic tests of relevant evidence. And thus, forensic biologists will often be required to testify as an expert witness in a court of law about the findings in their reports.
Q: What courses do I need for the BS in Forensic Science – Biology Track?
A:
Introductory Biology and Laboratory
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Genetics BIOL 3320
Population Genetics
Microbiology
For the Forensic Biology Track, 19 credits of Upper Division Biology Courses (not including the required Biology courses listed above) must be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor. Depending on the desired forensic biology focus of the student, possible choices for this requirement might include:
Entomology ZOOL 3468
Comparative Plant Morphology BOT 3330 or BOT 3437 (Plant Taxonomy second choice.
Histology BIOL 3330
Plants in Southwest Cultures BIOL 3341
Toxicology BIOL 3351
Forensic DNA Analysis BIOL 3357
Molecular Cell Biology BIOL 3414
Ecology BIOL 3416
Desert Ecology BIOL 3427
Advanced Methods in Biology BIOL 4195
Special Problems BIOL 4198
Field Biology BIOL 4225
Endocrinology BIOL 4320
Animal Ecology BIOL 4327
Mammalian Physiology BIOL 4388
Students with senior standing may be allowed to take graduate level courses for this requirement, including:
Herpetology BIOL 5305
Biogeography BIOL 5313
Biosystematics BIOL 5316
Ecology of Desert Organisms BIOL 5318
Mammalogy BIOL 5324
Biostatistics BIOL 5328
Physiology of Bacterial Cell BIOL 5329
Structure/Function Macromolecules BIOL 5340
Synthesis/Degradation Macromolecules BIOL 5342
Mechanisms- Cellular Toxicity BIOL 5343
Molecular Pathogenesis BIOL 5344
Ecosystem Toxicology BIOL 5346
Limnology BIOL 5360
Mission Statement
The Forensic Science Program at The University of Texas at El Paso strives to:
offer students a rigorous undergraduate curriculum designed to develop critical thinking, understanding of science, and to provide enhanced laboratory and research experiences through engagement in active inquiry and scholarship
encourage student participation in forensic science professional societies.
This program will prepare students for:
employment in forensic science laboratories
graduate or professional schools
Dr. James Li
Forensic Science Program Director