Course Syllabus
Barry University
College of Arts and Sciences
Course Syllabus
Fall, 2021
All students, faculty, and staff are required to wear a face covering in shared indoor spaces at all Barry University locations. Please have your mask in place before you enter the classroom. Wearing masks is one of the ways we can protect one another and create a safe shared space.
Course Number: BIO 307 01, L1 (3 credits)
Course Title: Biology of Crime/ Biology of Crime Lab
Required Text: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology
Day/Time/Location: 01 WF 1:00pm – 1:50pm Siena 206
L1 M 1:00pm-2:50pm Siena 206
Instructor: Laura Mudd, PhD.
Office: Siena 332
Office Telephone: (305) 899-3204 E-mail: lmudd@barry.edu
Office Hours: All office hours will be held in Siena 332.
I will be available M: 3-4, W, F: 12-1, T 10:00-12:00 or by appointment.
Course Description:
This is a survey course which emphasizes the use of modern scientific procedures to supply biological information and evidence used in criminal investigations. These concepts will be discussed in class and the methods applied in the laboratory. 2 hours lecture and two hours laboratory weekly. The concepts include: DNA fingerprinting, ABO blood grouping, blood spatter pattern analysis, forensic anthropology, hair and fiber analysis, forensic toxicology, forensic entomology, arson, bioterrorism, and other methodologies used in forensic investigations. Prerequisites: 3 hours of college level math, Junior or Senior status, and/or permission of the instructor. Credits do not count toward the Biology major.
Relationship of Course to University Mission:
BIO 307 lectures in “Biology of Crime” are designed to provide non-science majors with a hands-on science experience that reinforces Barry University’s core commitment to the integration of study, reflection and action that informs the intellectual life. Through the scholarly and critical analysis of fundamental questions of the human experience such as the process of DNA analysis, the proper use of laboratory technology, and the application of the scientific method in forensic analysis, students learn about methods which help to ensure social justice and to promote the common good while they improve their scientific literacy. Furthermore, BIO 307 lectures for non-science majors support both the intellectual diversity and the global worldview of life science and its application to real world settings by bringing in a variety of experts in the field of forensic science, such as Forensic Photographer for the Miami Dade County Medical Examiner Office, Heidi Nichols, to present and discuss current trends and technologies in forensic science.
Course Objectives:
The major focus is to gain a thorough understanding of the use of modern scientific techniques as they apply to collecting and analyzing evidence in criminal investigations. Additionally, students will gain insight into the scientific method and extend its application in their daily activities.
Learning Methods:
- Lecture and classroom discussion
- Selected AV materials available for the classroom
- Use of various models and human organs to describe the abnormal state
- Guest speakers
- Laboratory techniques as applied to the solution of certain crimes
Attendance Policy:
The College of Arts and Sciences adheres to the following attendance policy: A total of 6 class hours of absence will result in withdrawal with W, if within the designated withdrawal period, or with an automatic F if not. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the withdrawal during the designated withdrawal period. Otherwise, an F will be issued at the end of the term.
COVID-19 Related Issues
Students who are experiencing symptoms, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who are not fully vaccinated and have been exposed to someone diagnosed COVID-19 positive must complete the COVID-19 Initial Notification Form (https://www.barry.edu/prepare/covid-19/notification.html). You should not attend class if you meet any of the criteria that requires submission of a Notification Form. Contact your course instructors and inform them of your status. If you receive notification from the contact tracer that indicates you should not attend class, forward this information to your class instructors. Your instructors will develop a plan that will help you keep up-to-date with the course content and assignments. Stay in close communication with your instructors during the entire time you may have to be absent from class.
Tardiness: Students are expected to be on time for class. If you arrive later than 10 minutes after the class has started, there is the possibility that the door will be locked. Continued tardiness may result in referral to the student’s dean
Exam/Quiz Policy: Each individual instructor reserves the right to administer quizzes, exams and/or assignments either at the beginning of class or at the end of class. Exams and quizzes will not be administered after any student has finished and left the class. All absences from quizzes, exams, and/or deadlines for assignments are unexcused; this means a zero for that assignment, unless the student has written documentation for one of the following reasons:
- Medical problems to be documented in writing by a physician or nurse.
- Death in the immediate family, to be documented by a printed notice either from the newspaper or funeral home.
- Scheduled participation in varsity sports activities or academic conferences, to be documented in writing by athletic or academic director.
- Court appearance
A copy of the written excuse must be submitted within 10 days, with the name and telephone number of an individual who can verify that the absence was necessary and unavoidable.
Academic Dishonesty Policy:
Cheating and Plagiarism:
- Cheating is defined as the attempt, successful or not, to give or obtain aid and/or information by Illicit means in meeting any academic requirements, including examinations.
- Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgment, of the ideas, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or speaker.
Students are expected to know and abide by the policy as stated in the university catalogue and student handbook.
Accessibility Statement:
Students with documented special learning needs may want to inform the instructor so that accommodations may be made, or contact the Barry Office of Accessibility Services (305) 899-3489.
Student Behavior:
All Barry University students are expected to behave according to accepted norms that ensure a climate wherein all can exercise their right to learn. Such norms are set forth in the undergraduate catalogue, under College of Arts and Sciences, Guidelines for Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility. Please be sure that you have read and understood that section. No faculty member will tolerate classroom behavior that violates these norms. Such behavior will be grounds for withdrawal from the class, judicial proceeding, or failure of the course. If warranted, students engaging in such behavior will be removed from class by security personnel and may be required to undergo counseling.
Course Requirements:
*To assess comprehension of concepts and scientific literacy, students will take 5 exams.
*To measure comprehension of concepts, observations, scientific methods, analytical thinking and scientific literacy, students will complete 12 laboratory exercises of which the two lowest grades will be removed from the calculated average.
*The writing assignment will have one inch margins and will be font 10-12. Reports should be reviewed in the Learning Center before submission. Students MUST submit proof of review of the writing assignment by the Writing Lab before it will be graded. Each student will be evaluated by the instructor using the rubric and assessment form attached to this syllabus.
Five exams, a writing assignment, and lab work, will determine the student's grade for the course as outlined below:
1st hour exam 12%
2nd hour exam 12%
3rd hour exam 12%
4th hour exam 12%
5th hour exam 12%
Writing assignment 10%
Lab Exercises 30%
100%
Make-up Policy: make-up exams will be administered only when the student has a proper excuse (see attendance policy). All make-up exams will be given no later than one week after the date of the missed exam.
Biology Grading Scale:
A = 90 -100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = Below 60
Laboratory attire. Students will be supplied with the necessary protective equipment required to be worn during laboratory sessions. Students must wear closed-toed shoes in the lab.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE:
Week of Aug 23
W Introduction to Forensic Science - Study of human body’s organ systems and
their function as well as various pathologies (Chapter 1).
F The use of autopsy in determining the cause, manner, and mode of death.
Week of Aug 30
W Continuation of autopsies and case studies to determine time of death. Trauma, Wounds, Stages of Decomposition.
F The scientific analysis of human body fluids and their use in criminal
investigations.
Week of Sep 6
W Serology-The science of ABO blood grouping and its application in
solving certain crimes; review for exam 1 (Chapter 18)
F Exam 1
Week of Sep 13
W Hematocrit (Chapter 18), Introduction to genetics (Chapter 28)
F Punnett square
Week of Sep 20
W Blood spatter patterns and their use in determining the nature of death at a crime
scene.
F Forensic Anthropology – Study of skeletal elements (appendicular and axial
skeleton); skeletal remains and analysis of decomposition. (Chapters 6, 7, 8)
Week of Sep 27
W Forensic odontology (Chapter 23)- the study of bitemarks and dental analysis for
victim identification, review for exam
F Exam #2
Week of Oct 4
W Study of the body’s integument, skin, hair, and fingernails, fingerprints and other
uses of dermatoglyphics. Friction, chemical and thermal burns. (Chapter 5)
F Hair and fiber analysis (Chapter 5)
Week of Oct 11
W Introduction to PCR and DNA technology (Chapters 2, 28)
F DNA structure and duplication
Week of Oct 18
W DNA (continued)
F Exam #3
Week of Oct 25
W PCR and gel electrophoresis;
F Alcohol toxicity and blood alcohol determinations.
Week of Nov 1
W Legal aspects of blood alcohol determination and physiology of alcohol
poisoning
F Blood alcohol determination.
Week of Nov 8
W Forensic toxicology; review for exam
F Exam #4
Week of Nov 15
W Guest speaker Heidi Nichols (Medical Examiner’s office)
F Drug toxicity, Federal Drug schedules; types of drugs
NOV 20- Writing assignment due
Week of Nov 22
W Fall holiday-No Class
F Thanksgiving Holiday (No Class)
Week of Nov 30
W Forensic entomology and its application in determining time and location of
death ; Forensic aspects of arson and explosive investigations
F Forensic botany and the use of seeds, spores, and plants in forensic investigations:
Review for exam
Week of Dec 6
M Exam #5 (1:00 pm)
TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE:
Week of:
Aug 23 Review of syllabus and lab safety; Video on human autopsy and various case
studies dealing with forensic investigations
Aug 30 Dissection of the fetal pig to observe body structure and become familiar with the
processes of an actual autopsy including the Y-incision and the various body
cavities and organ placement/identification used to determine cause, manner and mode of death.
Sep 6 Labor Day-No Class
Sep 13 Analysis of body fluids: ABO blood groups, paternity testing, urine and saliva
Sep 20 Blood spatter pattern analysis; determining point of convergence and origin
Sep 27 Forensic anthropology- investigating skeletal measurements, skeletal remains, and
determination of time of death; forensic odontology
Oct 4 Field Exercise: mass grave identification of human skeletal remains
Oct 11 Skin and fingerprinting analysis
Oct 18 Field trip to Medical Examiner’s Office (alternative assignment available in the
Biology resource room)
Oct 25 DNA fingerprinting and RFLP analysis using gel electrophoresis.
Nov 1 Forensic analysis of hair and fibers
Nov 8 Forensic toxicology, drugs, poisons and blood alcohol analysis
Nov 15 Forensic entomology-using insect life cycles to determine time and place of death
Nov 22 No Class
Nov 29 Flame photometry and chromatography used to identify unknown substances.
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GENERAL EDUCATION/DISTRIBUTION/PSR ASSESSMENT CHART BIO 307 |
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Physical/Biological Sciences Learning Goals
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All courses which satisfy the University General Education/Distribution requirements in Biology meet the following learning goal(s):
To develop an understanding of scientific concepts with emphasis upon scientific observation, scientific methods, analytical thinking, and scientific literacy.
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Personal Social Responsibility Learning Goal |
Ethical and moral reasoning (ER): Outcome 1. Students take responsibility for their own learning and development, acting ethically to achieve personal growth.
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Outcome(s)/ Assignment |
To assess these goals, the student will complete the Course-Embedded Writing Assignment:
Satisfactory demonstration of this outcome will be indicated by a score of 3 0r higher in the assignment rubric. |
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Rubric |
The rubric for this assignment, including both General Education/ Distribution and PSR traits, is attached.
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PSR/Gen Ed Assignment Rubric
Student’s Name: _________________________ Semester/Year: ____________ Grade: _______
Professor: _______________________________ Course/Section: ____________
Development of Scientific Concepts by Scientific Observation and DNA Fingerprinting Analysis
This rubric to be used in BIO 307 Biology of Crime Lectures
Purpose of Assignment: to develop scientific practices by using a DNA fingerprinting lab for scientific observation of a common forensic DNA technique, scientific analysis of similarities and differences in DNA samples, while developing ethical personal responsibility to learn DNA collection and analysis at it relates to both protecting the public from serious crimes and preserving right to privacy. This assignment meets the following criteria,
PSR Component: Students take responsibility for their own learning and development, acting ethically to achieve their goals and aspirations.
General Education Requirement: Physical/Biological Sciences Learning Goal, to develop an understanding of scientific concepts with emphasis upon scientific observation, scientific methods, analytical thinking and scientific literacy.
The student will demonstrate skills,
- ____/5 points, Format/General: by following the guidelines for formatting, including information about the author of this assignment (student), and the course.
- Name is included (1 pt)
- Date is included (1 pt)
- Course Number, Name and Section Number is included (1 pt)
- Major (1 pt) Ex., Criminology, Psychology, Forensic Photography, …,Undecided.
- Specific Career goal (1 pt) Ex. Psychologist, criminal investigator, forensic photographer, journalist,…, Undecided.
- ____/5 points, Analytical Thinking and Scientific Observation by writing one paragraph describing the methods and goal of DNA fingerprinting. The lecture/lab handout, library resources, etc. can be used.
- 5 points, clearly and correctly distinguishes 5 steps in the lab and the goal of DNA fingerprinting
- 4 points, clearly and correctly distinguishes 4 steps and the goal of DNA fingerprinting
- 3 points, clearly and correctly distinguishes 3 steps and the goal of DNA fingerprinting
- 2 points, clearly and correctly distinguishes 2 steps and the goal of DNA fingerprinting
- 1 point, clearly and correctly distinguishes 1 steps and the goal of DNA fingerprinting
- ____/5 points, Scientific Literacy by reading provided scientific paper and describing in one paragraph, the author’s point of view on the ethics and use of DNA collection and analysis.
- 5 points – states at least 5 ethical points/concepts from the paper.
- 4 points – states at least 4 ethical points/concepts from the paper.
- 3 points – states at least 3 ethical points/concepts from the paper.
- 2 points – states at least 2 ethical points/concepts from the paper.
- 1 point – states at least 1 ethical points/concepts from the paper.
- ____/5 points Ethical Personal Responsibility by describing in one paragraph, the student’s views on the ethics of collecting and analyzing DNA for forensic purposes (your argument can be in agreement or disagreement with the author of the scientific paper, but it should refer to the scientific paper as comparison).
- 5 points – described views clearly, and rationally
- 3 points – described either clearly or rationally
- 1 point – described neither clearly nor rationally
- ____/5 points Ethical Personal Responsibility by describing in one paragraph, how does the DNA fingerprinting lab contribute to your learning of the biology of criminal investigation and how it will help you achieve your career goals?
- 5 points – argument is clear and rational and the argument is defended logically
- 3 points– argument has at least 1 of these components (clear, rational, logically)
- 1 point – argument is not made.
Course Summary:
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