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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Evaluate quality of DNA data 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243251  Evaluate quality of DNA data 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forensic Science 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Learners credited with this unit standard are able to use an expert system for the quality control of DNA marker DNA data. Qualifying learners will possess detailed knowledge of applying specialised systems to extract, evaluate and interpret DNA data in order to make an interpretation to provide a DNA profile. Learners will have an awareness of the variety of contexts within specialised systems that may be applied in the forensic biology industry in order to provide results in forensic investigations.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Evaluate the operating principles of specialised software.
  • Analyse raw DNA data processing using specialised systems.
  • Evaluate processed DNA data generated by specialised systems. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The unit standards:
  • Amplify DNA with the polymerase chain reaction
  • Isolate DNA
  • Separate DNA fragments
  • Quantify DNA Isolate
  • Interpret DNA results from a statistical perspective

    Computer Literacy at NQF Level 3 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard applies to the use of independent expert software for allele designation on DNA data. It deals with specific specialised systems such as (STRgazer or True Allele designation on DNA data. Where reference to DNA data is made it refers to Short Tandem Repeat (STR).

    The quality assurance and quality control policies of the laboratory should be followed and all procedures must comply with the quality management system of the organization.

    Wherever this unit standard refers to a given situation it should be understood (but is not limited to) to include a practical scenario or a mock scenario or a theoretical scenario or case study. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Evaluate the operating principles of specialised software. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Reasons why specialised systems are used in analysis of DNA data are justified with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Fully and semi -automated systems are differentiated in order to determine which system should be used in a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Specialised systems are analysed in terms of their uses and operating principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Specialised systems and their uses are evaluated in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Analyse raw DNA data processing using specialised systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Principles of algorithmic logic in software systems are explained in order to justify the use of the specialised system. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Algorithmic logic refers to only how DNA data is stored, how DNA data is manipulated, how DNA data is retrieved within the system.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Principles of allelic binning are applied in a specified DNA data set. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    DNA data is tracked in a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The concept of DNA data flow within the genetic analyser is examined in order to establish system constraints. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    DNA data flow processes of the expert system are assessed in order to retrieve DNA data for interpretation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Assessment includes but is not limited to the assessment of the description of the origin and the preparation of the DNA data file(s) of categories such as double result comparison.
  • Interpretation should include assessment of calculated off-ladder alleles, alert highlights, quality flags and values.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate processed DNA data generated by specialised systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Quality assurance mechanisms are applied to ensure scientific verifiable DNA data. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Quality assurance mechanisms refer to but are not limited to control samples.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The processed DNA data is analysed in order to determine if intervention is required. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Intervention includes, but is not limited to next course of action, manual assigning of alleles, re-analysis, confirmation of results and corrective actions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Results are verified in order to reflect whether any next course of action should be taken. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Results refer to but are not limited to: manual signed alleles, results from re-analysis and corrective actions.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

    Assessor must be competent in the outcomes of this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • DNA process and application of troubleshooting in the different DNA components.
  • Application and principles of specialised systems in the analysis of DNA data.
  • Concepts of relational DNA databases and the application thereof.
  • Judicial procedure pertaining to forensic evidence.
  • DNA data naming conventions.
  • Knowledge of:

    > Isolation of DNA.
    > Amplification of DNA.
    > Fragment separation of DNA.
    > Allele designation.
  • Skills of allele designation.
  • Quality assurance.
  • National Research Council US report on the "The evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence" published in 1996 (NRCII:1996).
  • DNA Advisory Board recommendation on statistics published in the July 2000 issue of Forensic Science Communications.
  • South African National Accreditation System standard for DNA testing laboratories.
  • Understanding of specialised computer software systems:

    > Data Flow.
    > Detection.
    > Platforms.
    > Error handling.
    > Data Retrieval and storage. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Utilise appropriate standard operating procedures in applying specialised systems to achieve desired outcomes, in line with international accepted forensic practice. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team within the processes of expert system analysis. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise oneself and one's activities so that all requirements are met in achieving competence in expert system analysis of DNA data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, evaluate, organize and critically evaluate information related to experts systems so that appropriate corrective actions can be taken. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with others within the process of DNA analysis, as well as external role-players in order to achieve the aims of documentation, report writing and expert witness testimony utilizing the modes of oral and written communication. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Abbreviations and Glossary of terms:
  • DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  57977   National Certificate: Forensic Biology  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.