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Population Genetics and Forensic Analysis
Provider: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Activity no.: 3259-21-00-00 
Enrollment deadline: 01/09/2021
Date and time11.10.2021, at: 09:00 - 15.10.2021, at: 17:00
Regular seats20
Course fee5,760.00 kr.
LecturersVania Pereira
ECTS credits4.00
Contact personVania Pereira    E-mail address: vania.pereira@sund.ku.dk
Enrolment Handling/Course OrganiserPhD administration     E-mail address: phdkursus@sund.ku.dk

Aim and content
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD students at graduate schools in the other Nordic countries. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from Nordic countries. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.

Aim
The aim of the course is to explain basic population genetic concepts and demonstrate their relevance in forensic genetics; what are evolutionary forces, how they influence the genetic diversity in the populations, and how to take these factors into account when analysing and
reporting data.
Participants have the opportunity to work on datasets for population genetic analysis and result interpretation.

Content
The course aims to bridge theoretical population genetic concepts and additionally, to provide a context into real forensic casework.
Students will be invited to discuss the role of evolutionary forces in shaping genetic variation in populations. Different software and bioinformatic tools to handle genetic data will be presented and discussed in class.
The course will also cover the types of genetic markers that are available for investigation in different forensic applications, highlighting their advantages and limitations.
The practical applications of population genetics in forensics will be highlighted, by discussing the concepts behind DNA databases, statistical parameters of forensic efficiency, and the weight of the evidence of a DNA profile.

Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Explain how evolutionary forces modulate the genetic diversity in populations
2. Explain the characteristics of different genetic markers and their mode of transmission
3. Understand the application of population genetics in forensics
4. Understand in which forensic context these markers can be applied to retrieve the most relevant information (advantages and limitations)
5. Analyse, code, and interpret genetic data using relevant software and bioinformatic tools.

Content
The course curriculum will cover the following topics:
- Principles of population genetics
- Genetic and phenotypic variation
- Molecular markers – recombining portions of the genome
- Molecular markers – uniparental genetic information
- Application of population genetics in a forensic context – the weight of the evidence of a DNA profile
- Population genetics behind DNA databases and statistical parameters of forensic efficiency

Participants
The course is for biology and medical students, and from other related areas with a broad background in genetics and molecular biology. Laboratory experience is preferred but not mandatory.

Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
- Graduate Programme for Oral Sciences, Forensic Medicine and Bioanthropology
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Language
English

Form
Lectures, group work, discussions, exercises

Course director
Vania Alves e Silva Pereira, Associate Professor, Section of Forensic Genetics – Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences – University of Copenhagen, vania.pereira@sund.ku.dk

Teachers
Vania Alves e Silva Pereira
Leonor Gusmão, Professor, Rio de Janeiro State University
+ other experts in the field

Dates
11-15 October 2021

Course location
Department of Forensic Medicine

Registration
Please register before 01.09.2021

Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.

Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.

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