INVESTIGATIVE AND PREDICTIVE DNA

Dr. Hirak Ranjan Dash is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Biotechnology at the National Forensic Sciences University, Delhi Campus, India. He obtained his PhD degree in Life Science from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. Previously, he served as a DNA expert at Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhya Pradesh, India. His research interests include forensic microbiology, microbial phylogeny, forensic DNA analysis, genetic markers, and next generation sequencing. He has published 50 research papers and 9 books. He has previously received a research fellowship from the Indian Academy of Science. He is a pioneer in India working on NGS-based forensic DNA analysis. He is a life member of the Association of Microbiologists of India, International Society of Forensic Geneticists, and Asian Federation of Biotechnologists.

• Module I: Conventional Forensic DNA Analysis1. Fundamentals and Principles of Forensic DNA Analysis2. Autosomal STR analysis and its usefulness in forensic DNA analysis3. Detection and identification of forensically relevant body fluids4. Use of lineage markers in conventional forensic DNA analysis5. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA and its aid in forensic investigation6. Effectiveness of conventional forensic DNA analysis in criminal investigation ModuleII: Technological advancements in forensic DNA analysis7. Advancements in Biotechnology for Trace evidence analysis8. Understanding RAPID DNA and its application9. Rapidly Mutating Y-STRs in Forensic DNA analysis10. Use of biallelic genetic markers in forensic DNA analysis11. Epigenetics and its application in forensic analysis12. Microbial approaches to forensic investigation13. Probabilistic Genotyping techniques and their applications14. Application of genetics in Archaeological investigation15. Digital PCR: a revolution in forensic DNA analysis16. Role of Nanotechnology in forensic DNA analysis17. Advancements in wildlife forensic DNA analysis ModuleIII: Predictive Forensic DNA analysis18. Molecular Autopsy for analysis of Sudden Unexplained death cases19. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Forensic DNA analysis20. Prediction of lineage for generating investigative leads21. Prediction of Externally Visible Characteristics and its in role in forensic investigation22. Prediction of Ancestry and its role in forensic investigation23. The advent of Investigative Genetic Genealogy24. Contribution of advanced molecular techniques in investigation of Cold casesModule IV: Challenges and Concerns in Forensic DNA analysis25. Ethical issues in forensic DNA analysis26. DNA profiling and databases: issues and challenges27. Challenges in Interpretation of compromised cases by DNA profiling28. Challenges of DNA Fingerprinting in Disaster Victim Investigations29. Forensic Implications of PCR Inhibitors30. Assessment of Reliability and Reproducibility of forensic DNA profiling results