Identifying unknown specimens using predictive phylogenies for remote forensic education.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Molecular Systematics
• Entomology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated virtual adaptation of applied forensic science courses.
• Traditional laboratory components in forensic science education faced challenges in remote learning environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a remote laboratory exercise for forensic entomology education.
• To provide students with practical skills in specimen identification using molecular data.

Main Methods:

• Students utilized public databases to retrieve sequence data.
• Phylogenetic trees were generated from sequence data.
• Students identified an unknown specimen by comparing it to their generated phylogenies.

Main Results:

• The remote exercise successfully simulated a traditional forensic entomology lab.
• Students learned to apply molecular systematics to identify forensic specimens.
• The exercise was adaptable for various academic levels.

Conclusions:

• This virtual lab exercise effectively bridges molecular systematics and forensic education.
• It offers a viable alternative for practical laboratory components in forensic entomology.
• The publicly available resource aids in understanding forensic question resolution.