The course will explain how arthropod biology, development cycles and population biology are important in forensic sciences, both to prove contact between the subjects involved and the scene itself and to determine the date and place of the crime. The course will explain what the International Convention on trade in endangered species (CITES) is. Techniques to prevent the illegal trafficking of protected animals and their products or parts will be described.
Forensic Ecology Handbook: From Crime Scene to Court. 2012. Editors: Nicholas Márquez-Grant, Julie Roberts. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ISBN: 9781119974192.
Entomologia forense. Magni, Massimelli, Messina, Mazzucco & Di Luise. Ed. Minerva Medica.
Scientific papers.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
- deep knowledge in the field of forensic zoology.
Competences acquired:
- knowledge on how to carry out surveys and assessments on crime scenes.
- to be able to use theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of forensic zoology.
- to know how to compare and identify critical issues in specific case studies related to forensic zoology.
Communication skills:
-to know the scientific language in the field of forensic zoology.
Skills acquired:
- to use scientific research skills in research related to forensic sciences
- to apply critical thinking, problem solving, creative thinking, decision making to the field f forensic sciences
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Zoology, Ecology and Molecular Biology
Teaching Methods
Frontal lectures. Group work. In-depth study of specific case studies. Interactive teaching and moments of discussion and critical analysis.
Type of Assessment
Oral examination
Course program
Introduction to the forensic applications of applied zoology and entomology
Forensic entomology: definition
Elements of ecology. Corpses as ecosystems
Introduction to forensic entomology:
- insects and criminal investigations
- applied techniques on the crime scene
- breeding techniques
- arthropod successions in terrestrial environment, Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) calculations
- arthropod successions in lentic environment, PMI calculations
- experimental design applied to PMI calculations
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna (CITES) and its application purposes. Implementation of CITES in Italian legislation.
Lawful and illicit trafficking of protected animals and their products or parts.
The application of forensic DNA analysis techniques for supporting CITES. Species identification. Geographical origin/population identification. Individual identification. Reconstruction of individual relationships. Paternity-maternity molecular tests. Captive breeding.
Study cases.