INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE

INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE
Didlaukio str. 86 B, Vilnius
Ph: +370 527 890 48
e-mail: rastine@tmi.eu
1 TMI. FORENSIC MEDICINE AND SCIENCE: NEWEST TECHNOLOGIES
Instructor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alvydas Pauliukevičius, Ph.: +370 5278948, office@tmi.lt
Language of Instructions: English
Required Prerequisites: basic knowledge of biology, human anatomy and physiology
Suggested academic cycle or year of studies: From Bachelor degree studies (3 rd year)
ECTS credits: 6 Local credits: 4
Contact Hours per week: 4
Semester: Autumn or Spring
Methods of Teaching: Lectures, seminars, tests
Form of Assessment: Written exam
Objectives of the course: Students should deepen their knowledge about the objects of forensic
medicine and forensic science, types and possibilities of examinations and damaging factors as
well. The newest methods and technologies will be described as noninvasive methods like virtopsy.
The aim of the program is to acquaint future lawyers and policemen with forensic medicine and
forensic science because any crime to person’s health, life or dignity can not be exposed without
assistance of forensic medicine, medical criminalistic, traumatism and other injuries including
determination of the death and time of the death. The new technologies in forensic medicine will be
discussed during the course, the most recent technologies, their application and development in
forensic medicine and science.
The main knowledge will be given on methods of forensic medicine investigations: dead
persons‘body, body parts, alive persons‘, deontological expertise; toxicological; serological;
cytological; DNA investigations, medicine criminalistics, forensic anthropological, odontological,
forensic histological investigations.
Reading List:
1. Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Ed. J. Payne-James, etc. Vol. 1- 4.
ELSEVIER. Academic Press. 2005.
2. D. Dolinak, E. Matshes, E. O. Lew. Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice.
ELSEVIER. Academic Press. 2005.
3. Atlas of Forensic Medicine. Compiled by S. Pollak, P. Saukko. ELSEVIER. Academic
Press. 2003.
4. J. Forensic Science International. Ed. P. Saukko. Vol. 155-163. ELSEVIER. 2006.
5. B. Knight. Lawyer’s Guide to Forensic Medicine, 2 nd Edition. London. 1998.
6. Encyclopedia of Toxicology. 2 nd Edition. Ed. P. Wexler. ELSEVIER. Academic Press.
2005.
7. B. Brinkmann, A. Carracedo. Progress in Forensic Genetics 9, ELSEVIER. 2003.
8. http://forensic.to/links/pages/Forensic_Medicine/
9. http://www.virtopsy.com/
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2 TMI. FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
Instructor: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Rimantas Jankauskas, Ph.: +370 52789047, rimantas.jankauskas@tmi.lt
Language of Instruction: English
Required prerequisites: Human anatomy / osteology
Suggested academic cycle or year of studies: From Bachelor degree studies (3rd year)
ECTS credits: 4.5 Local credits: 3
Contact Hours per week: 4
Semester: Autumn or Spring
Methods of Teaching: Seminars, handouts, labs
Form of Assesssment: Oral examination
The objective of the course is to provide essential knowledge on aims, objectives and methods of
forensic anthropology. Following topics are covered: biology of skeletal tissues. Outline of human
skeleton and it’s variations. Anatomy of teeth. Peculiarities of osteology of animals. Chronology of
skeletal growth. Biology of senescence of skeleton. Factors of sexual dimorphism. Craniometric,
osteometric and odontometric instruments. Preparation of human remains for anthropological
analysis. Documentation. Determination of group identification traits. Macroscopic methods of age
determination (dental eruption, epiphyseal union, morphology of symphysis, cranial susure
obliteration, sternal end of ribs, degenerative changes of the skeleton, complec method).
Histological methods of age determination. Methods of sex determination (pelvis and skull
morphology, discriminant methods). Determination of ancestry according to skeleton and teeth.
Determination of stature and other somatometric traits. Individual traits (pathology of the skeleton,
traces of diseases, traumas and surgery, dental pathology and dental treatment. Principles of
forensic facial reconstruction. Forensic archaeology: principles of investigation, instruments,
documentation. Forensic anthropology of mass graves. Taphonomy of skeletal tissues: physical and
chemical processes. Perimortal and postmortal changes. Changes of skeletal tissues at high
temperatures and possibilities of identification. Supplementary methods: forensic entomology,
zoology, palinology, geology. Principles of identification of living person. Professional
organisations and publications of forensic anthropology.
Reading list:
1. Bass W. Human Osteology. Missouri Archaeological Society, 1971.
2. Krogman W.M., Yasar Iscan, M. The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine. C.C. Thomas:
1986.
3. Ubelaker D. Human Skeletal Remains. 2 nd ed. Washington: Taraxacum, 1989.
4. White T.D., Folkens P.A. Human Osteology. Academic Press, Inc.: 1991.
5. Yasar Iscan M., Kennedy K (Eds.) Reconstruction of life from the skeleton. W.Liss: 1989.
6. Knussmann R. Anthropologie. Handbuch der vergleichenden Biologie des Menschen.
Stuttgart e.a., 1988.
7. Death, decay and reconstruction: approaches to archaeology and forensic science. Ed. By A.
Boddington, A.N. Garland, R.C. Janaway. Manchester University Press, 1987.
8. Holck P. Cremated bones. Oslo: Antropologiske skrifter Nr.1, 1986.
9. Garmus A. Lithuanian Forensic Osteology. Vilnius, 1996.
10. Recommendations for Age and Sex Diagnoses of Skeletons. Journal of Human Evolution
(1980) 9: 517-549.
11. http://forensic.to/links/pages/Forensic_Medicine/Anthropology/
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3 TMI. CRIME AND DNA INVESTIGATION. NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN
DNA FORENSICS
Instructor: Dr. Marija Čaplinskiene, Ph.: + 370 688 46832, m.caplinskiene@tmi.lt
Language of Instructions: English
Required Prerequisites: basic knowledge of biology
Contact Hours per week: 4
ECTS credits: 4, 5. Local credits: 3
Semester: Autumn or spring
Methods of Teaching: lectures, seminars
Form of Assessment: written work, exam.
The course discusses application aspects of the highly discriminatory DNA markers those could be
used to resolve questions evidence source identification. Forensic DNA typing methods and
technologies have been evolving rapidly. The examples of DNA uses for Forensic Identification
will be discussed.
• How does forensic identification work?
• Is DNA effective in identifying persons?
• How is DNA typing done?
• What are some of the DNA technologies used in forensic investigations?
• DNA Forensics Databases.
• Ethical, Legal, and Social Concerns about DNA Data banking.
• Potential Benefits of DNA Data banking Arrestees.
The stain analysis – sources will be analyzed during the course.
What are the Current possibilities of DNA laboratory? Future perspectives and newest technologies
will be described.
Casework Analysis:
• Forensic identification.
• Parentage testing.
DNA chip technology.
CODIS Laboratory.
Reading List:
1. J. M. Butler. Forensic DNA Typing: Biology, Technology, and Genetics of STR Markers.
2 nd edition. ELSEVIER. Academic Press, London. 2005.
2. B. Brinkmann, A. Carracedo. Progress in Forensic Genetics 9, ELSEVIER. 2003.
3. R. Fridell. DNA Fingerprinting: The Ultimate Identity. London. 2001.
4. R. Fridell. Solving Crimes: Pioneers of Forensic Science (Lives in Science). Grolier
Publishing. Canada. 2000.
5. J. W. Evett, S. Bruce Weir. Interpreting DNA Evidence: Statistical Genetics for Forensic
Scientists. 2001.
6. P. Sauko (Edit.), Forensic Science International. Elsevier. Vol. 136. 2003.
7. D. Patzelt, M. P. Baur, J. Bertrams. Forensiche Serologie/Hamogenetik. Kapitel 11,
Munster. 2004.
8. W. Schuller, L. Fereday, R. Scheithauer. International Hanbook on DNA Data exchange and
practice. Lyon. 2001.
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4 TMI. NEUROBIOLOGY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND CRIME SCENES
Instructor: Dr. Marija Čaplinskienė, Ph.: + 370 688 46832, m.caplinskiene@tmi.lt
Language of Instructions: English
Required Prerequisites: principles of biology, human anatomy, physiology
Suggested academic cycle or year of studies: From Bachelor degree studies (3 rd year)
ECTS credits: 4,5 Local credits: 3
Contact Hours per week: 4
Semester: Autumn or Spring
Methods of Teaching: Lectures, seminars, individual work.
Form of Assessment: written paper, exam
Objectives of the course: The course discusses application aspects of the neurobiology of human
behavior, the cases where person’s abnormality plays the most important causing both violence and
suicide.
To analyze the factors and prevalence rates of antisocial behavior in different countries and current
trends related crime scenes. The prevalent role plays a situation causing an extreme frustration,
which can cause suicide or violence. The situation can determine a reaction – aggression against
himself or another one. There are the cases where person’s abnormality plays the most important
causing both violence and suicide. Violent and suicidal behaviors are also linked to biological and
genetic predisposition. The findings in association between low levels of neurotransmitters (like
serotonin) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and aggressive behavior are obvious.
The following topics will be discussed during the course:
• Principles of human behavior and cognitive neurology.
• Antisocial behavior: direct analysis of candidate genes in impulsive behaviors.
• Aggression from a developmental perspective: genes, environments and interactions.
• Neurophysiology and neuropsychopharmacology.
• Suicidal behavior in youth.
• Neurobiological approaches to disorders of personality.
• Studies on the possibility of a genetic basis for violence.
• Association analysis of some molecular-genetic markers with criminal violence.
• Research prevention programs.
• Genetics and human behaviour: the ethical and legal context.
Reading List:
1. M.-M. Mesulam. Principles of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. 2nd Edition. Academic
Prees, 2006.
2. R. Ader. Psychoneuroimmunology. 4th Editon, vol. 1, 2. Academic Prees, 2006.
3. Genetics and human behaviour: the ethical context. Nuffield Council on Bioethics, London.
2002.
4. M. Dolan. Neurobiological Approaches to Disorders of Personality. Manchester. 2002.
5. National Institute of Mental Health. Suicide Research Program. Bethesda. 2002.
6. K. I. Morley, W. D. Hall. Is there a genetic susceptibility to engage in criminal acts? Trends
& Issues in crime and criminal justice. Canberra. 2003.
7. D. Wasserman, R. Wachbroit (Eds.). Genetics and Criminal Behavior, Cambridge. 2001.
8. S. H. Rhee, I. Waldman. Genetic and environmental influences on antisocial behavior: a
meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies. Psychological Bulletin, vol. 128, no. 3.
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5 TMI. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
MANAGEMENT
Instructor: Dr. Marija Čaplinskienė, Ph.: + 370 68846832, m.caplinskiene@tmi.lt
Language of Instructions: English
Required Prerequisites: principles of biology, physiology
Suggested academic cycle or year of studies: From Bachelor degree studies (3 rd year)
ECTS credits: 4,5 Local credits:3
Contact Hours per week:4
Semester: Autumn or Spring
Methods of Teaching: Lectures, seminars, handouts
Form of Assessment: Written paper, exam
Objectives of the course: Introduction to Public Health Policy and Sustainable Development,
Legal Issues, Recommendations of World Health Organization, Research Data on Environment
pollution and Public Health, Ecosystems damage, Disease Prevention Programs and action plans.
The course discusses application aspects of principals of sustainable development and public health
policy on national and international level, legal aspects and control, the risk management of public
health and environment interaction, regulation principles. European environment and health
strategy, EC public health care policy, ethical, legal issues on health privacy. Centre for Diseases
Control (CDC, Atlanta) recommendations on Diseases Prevention and Education Programs
implementation system. Mass disasters, biodiversities, prevention measures, tools and action plan.
Data analyses of environment risk factors, ecosystems damage and public health, planning and
management of prevention and education programs. Gaps and obstacles of public health and
environment monitoring system. Current trends and future perspective in public health policy and
legal issues. Innovation in examining models of development for achievements in reducing poverty
and inequality, in raising quality of life, in enhancing the status of women, in advancing effective
health care systems, and in conserving the biodiversity of fragile environments.
Reading List:
1. Report 2000-2002: Towards sustainable Development in Baltic Sea Region. Poland,
Drukrnia MiSiuro. Baltic 21 Series No. 1/2003.
2. Sustainable Development Strategies. A Resurse Book. The Int. Inst. For Environment and
Development. Earthscan Publications Ltd. London. 2002.
3. World Population Monitoring. United Nations. New York. 2001.
4. Čaplinskienė M., Aggression from a developmental perspective: Genes, environments and
interactions, The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry Volume 5, Supplement 1, ISSN
1562-2975. 2004.
5. Key Issues in Sustainable Development and Learning. A Critical Review. Edited by:
William Scott, Stephen Gough, Bath University. 2003, p. 288.
6. Dzemydienė D. Temporal Information Management and Decision Support for Predictive
Control of Environment Contamination Processes. In: Advances in Databases and
Information Systems. Proc. of Fifth East-European Conf. ADBIS'2001. J. Eder, A.
Caplinskas (Eds.). Vol. 1. ISBN 9986-05-449-4. Vilnius. Technika. 2001, p. 157-172.
7. Citizens and Governance for Sustainable Development: CIGSUD’2006. Ed.: W.L. Filho, D.
Dzemydiene, etc. Vilnius. 2006.
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