Reading Assignment for Section 3.3

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 3.3: Blood and Biological Evidence.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you will learn about the crucial role biological evidence plays in linking or excluding individuals from crime scenes and its impact on judicial outcomes. You’ll explore the key safety protocols for handling biological evidence, including the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), and understand the risks associated with improper handling. Additionally, you’ll examine how advancements in DNA technology, like touch DNA, have expanded the scope of biological evidence, and the challenges this poses for evidence retention and storage. Finally, you’ll evaluate strategies for managing bulky evidence and the importance of maintaining optimal storage conditions to preserve the integrity of biological samples.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 3.3

• SLO 1: Explain the role of biological evidence in linking or excluding individuals from crime scenes and describe how it influences judicial outcomes.
• SLO 2: Identify key safety protocols for handling biological evidence, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and assess the risks associated with improper handling.
• SLO 3: Analyze the impact of advancements in DNA technology, such as touch DNA, on the scope of biological evidence and discuss the challenges of evidence retention and storage in light of these advancements.
• SLO 4: Discuss the strategic approaches for managing bulky items in forensic evidence, including the importance of documentation, selective retention, and the use of digital archives to mitigate storage challenges.
• SLO 5: Evaluate the importance of maintaining optimal environmental conditions for the storage of biological evidence and explain how these conditions affect the preservation and integrity of the evidence for forensic analysis.