Exploring Forensic Entomology and eDNA in Crime Investigation

• Entomology
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Exploring Forensic Entomology and eDNA in Crime Investigation

12/03/2024

Learning Objective

Understand the uses of forensic entomology and eDNA in various types of serious crimes and wildlife crime investigation.

What do you already know about eDNA in crime investigation?

Forensic Entomology in Serious Crimes

Serious crime is defined in section 93(4) of the Police Act 1997:

'Conduct which:

(a) involves the use of violence, results in substantial financial gain or is conducted by a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose or;

(b) the offence or one of the offences is an offence for which a person who has attained the age of twenty-one and has no previous convictions could reasonably be expected to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of three years or more.’

(College of Policing, 2023)

Forensic Entomology in Serious Crimes

Forensic entomology is used to determine time of death, movement of a body, and if drugs or poisons were used in cases of murders, abductions, sexual crimes, and drug-related deaths.

Forensic Entomology in Wildlife Crime

Forensic entomology also plays a role in investigations of wildlife crime and deliberate environmental destruction by analysing insects found at crime scenes.

eDNA in Wildlife Crime

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is used to identify species from small traces of genetic material, aiding in wildlife crime investigations.

Species Testing with eDNA

eDNA is also used for species testing to monitor biodiversity, identify invasive species, and study ecosystems.

Critical Thinking Activity

Used in wildlife crime investigations and species testing:

• Poaching of endangered species
  
• Trafficking of illegal wildlife products
  
• Invasion of non-native or invasive species
  
• Monitoring of protected habitats
  
• Illegal fishing and over-harvesting
  
• Detecting wildlife trade in traditional medicines
  
• Illegal trading of exotic pets
  

In groups, how is eDNA used for one of the above investigations? 

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.