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Courses - Spring 2026
BSCI
Biological Sciences Program Department Site
BSCI382
Forensic Genetics: Power and Potential
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: C- or better in BSCI222.
What are the limits to forensic inference from genetics? From the early days of DNA "fingerprinting" to modern whole-genome analysis, forensics has undergone a revolution in identifying individuals, relatives, and phenotypes from trace samples of genetic material. This course will cover genetic inheritance processes, molecular data collection, statistical interpretation of results, and limits to inference imposed by ethics as well as those imposed by technology. In addition human forensic applications, this course will consider forensic inference involving pathogens and other non-human genetic material.