Crime Scene Investigation: AURAK

Head of the DNA Unit at RAK Police, Mr. Bushra Idris, paid a visit to the American University of Ras Al Khaimah.  The forensic scientist today delivered an engaging lecture in Building D, discussing the role of genetics in crime scene analysis.

In his talk he discussed how modern technologies manipulating human genetic material, the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), are helping to identify various genetic diseases before their onset, and how important DNA analysis has become in crime scene investigation, through evaluating traces of culprits’ DNA left at the site.

The lecture was attended by around 30 students, mostly from AURAK’s biotechnology program.  The AURAK biotechnology program trains students in state of the art technologies evaluating DNA, and graduates can potentially contribute to forensic science, as well as several other genetic investigations, such as those related to genetic, infectious and non-infectious diseases.  The lecture was also attended by Professor Muhammad Mukhtar, Chair of Biotechnology, Dr. Maxime Merheb, Dr. Rachel Matar and Professor Larry Griffin.

Bushra highlighted the relevance of DNA in current affairs, as well as speaking briefly about the career prospects available to those who are particularly interested in this field.  He walked the students through the process in solving a crime, from gathering the DNA to analyzing it in the laboratory.  He also discussed the challenges in successfully extracting a DNA sample, stressing that the process is not as easy as it appears on television.

Interestingly, Bushra was able to relate the lecture to a number of real-life crimes and murder cases from Al Rams and Digdaga, Ras Al Khaimah, and showed the students photographs of his own lab set-up at RAK Police’s DNA Unit.  He confirmed that his department in RAK Police was successfully able to solve these cases thanks to DNA analysis, and revealed that Ras Al Khaimah only experiences three to four homicide cases per year.

At the end of the lecture, Bushra answered a series of questions from fascinated students and faculty regarding his job and the lifestyle of a forensic scientist.  To conclude his talk, Bushra, rather sadly, pointed out that forensic science is nothing like what we are shown on popular US television show.

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) is an independent co-education institution of Higher Education that provides an integrated American-style, undergraduate and graduate education with a strong focus on local indigenous culture. The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research accredit all of AURAK’s programs.