Oct 30, 2025  
2022-2023 Course Catalog 
    
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2022-2023 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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BIOL 1023 - Introduction to Forensic Biology

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab 2
Course Description: This course deals with many of the basic concepts of general and human biology and chemistry, including a survey of various areas of forensic biology. Topics include DNA structure and analysis, analysis of skeletal evidence, biological trace evidence, blood and other body fluids, fingerprinting, and an overview of the human organ systems connected to these kinds of evidence.
MnTC Goals
3 Natural Science

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content
  1. Structure and function of organic molecules
  2. Properties of water
  3. Structure and function of cells
  4. Cellular reproduction
  5. Definition of science, biology, and forensic science
  6. History of the development of biology and forensic science
  7. Characteristics of tissues, hairs, DNA
  8. Other methodologies as they arise in the field(s)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

  1. describe the historic development of biology and forensic science.
  2. demonstrate the proper use of a compound microscope, stereomicroscope, and awareness of the principles of other types of microscopes including comparison, phase contrast, and electron microscopes.
  3. analyze the applications of science in society, e.g., the application of the scientific method to our daily lives as well as to the legal system (such as understanding the biology of and validity DNA in medical and legal proceedings).
  4. explain how to collect and preserve biological materials for scientific investigation.
  5. describe the physiological effects of various environmental and chemical agents, including disease-causing organisms, toxins, poison, medications, and illicit drugs.
  6. identify basic concepts of biology and chemistry, especially as they apply to the human body, including cell structure and function, biology of and analysis of DNA, and biological properties of blood and other body fluids.
  7. describe selected principles that have been developed through the work of relevant scientists.
  8. describe the structures and functions of the basic tissue types and of each of the body’s organs and organ systems.
  9. explain cellular reproduction, including cell division, the genetic code, DNA replication, and protein synthesis.
  10. explain the basic structure and function of human organ systems.
  11. explain the methods of scientific inquiry.
  12. explain changes that occur in biological systems as they decompose and factors that affect decomposition.

Competency 1 (1-6)
03. 01. Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories.
03. 02. Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students’ laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty. 03. 03. Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
03. 04. Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.


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