Human skeletal anatomy. Techniques for the study of human skeletal remains. Restoration. Identification of isolated bones. Age and sex determination. Identification of the main morphological features determination of the main metrical traits. Skeletal activity patterns. Pathologies. Genetic markers in forensic anthropology. Autosomal SRT,Y chromosome , mitochondrial DNA and SNPs for personal identification; classical and new generation molecular methodologies for genetic investigation.
Minozzi S. e Canci A. 2015. Archeologia dei resti umani. Dallo scavo al laboratorio. Carocci, Roma. Slides
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Basic laboratory methods in molecular anthropology.
Skeletal anatomy. Methods of restoration of skeletal remains. Methods of study of skeletal remains.
Competence acquired
DNA extraction methods from degraded samples and relative work flow in classical and NGS methodology , Molecular sex determination. Use of shared software for genetic data analyses.
Identification of single bones, also fragments. Assessment of age and sex from skeletal remains. Identification of activity patterns.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Ability to extract, typing and sequencing DNA from degraded samples.
Technical skills for restoration of skeletal remains. Analytical skills on diagnostic morphological features.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other individual formative activities: 100
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 2
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 48
Each student is evaluated by a written essay on the molecular procedures and by a written final essay on the specimens restored and analyzed during the course. Also an examination before specifically formed commissions.
Course program
Basic notions of human skeletal anatomy. Lab techniques for the study of human skeletal remains. Restoration. Identification of isolated bones. Age and sex determination. Calculation of the MNI. Identification of the main morphological features and determination of the main metrical traits. Skeletal activity patterns. Pathologies.
Degraded DNA, extraction techniques, molecular markers, autosomal and unilinear (Y and mtDNA) in forensic anthropology; structure of the SRTs and their molecular characterization; classic methodology and NGS in forensic anthropology ; case studies.