Biologia forense no ensino de biologia: uma proposta de atividades experimentais baseadas em técnicas forenses

Abstract

Forensic biology, a branch of forensic sciences and a subfield of biology, plays a crucial role in criminal investigations by applying knowledge of biology and human physiology to analyze biological traces left at crime scenes. Grounded in disciplines such as genetics, botany, toxicology, hematology, and molecular biology, it aids in solving crimes and stands out as an interdisciplinary and constantly evolving field. Forensic biology gained widespread popularity from the 2000s onwards, influenced by media, TV series, and programs, including within the school environment. With endless possibilities for application in basic education classes, particularly in topics like the general organization of living beings, genetics, and botany, incorporating activities involving forensic biology - such as games, case studies, and experiments - enhances biology teaching. These methods not only foster a critical, contextualized, and interdisciplinary view of scientific content but also promote the development of students' social and argumentative skills, increasing their motivation and interest through alternative methodologies to traditional teaching. In the Brazilian educational context, there is a significant lack of studies and practices aimed at bridging these two areas of knowledge. Considering this gap, the guiding question for the project was: how is forensic biology being implemented in biology classes? The general objective was to develop a video to support science and biology teachers in basic education, thus addressing the disconnect between forensic biology and the traditional biology curriculum. To achieve this goal, works published in the last five editions of ENEBIO (National Meeting of Biology Teaching) and the Genética na Escola journal were analyzed, and the findings were compiled into tables. As an educational product, the project resulted in the creation of a video to guide teachers and students in basic education in simulating technologies widely used in the forensic field.