subject: What is the History of DNA Fingerprinting? [print this page] What is the History of DNA Fingerprinting?
Genetics is a fascinating subject and one in which many people are interested. While most people have heard of testing that can conclusively identify a criminal as being the perpetrator of a crime and of tests that can determine the paternity of a child, few people know very much about DNA fingerprinting history.
While people have known about genetic engineering since the mid-1800s when Mendel first started keeping genetic profiles of peas, it was only recently that the true genetic revolution took place. In the 1960s, scientists cracked the genetic code, but it was another couple of decades before someone discovered how to identify people by their unique genetic makeup.
It was in 1984 that Alec Jeffreys developed the technique used for DNA fingerprinting. The technique that he used involved taking x-ray pictures of the DNA and looking at the dark and light bands. They would then look for fragments and patterns that made a person's genetic code unique. They were able to find that even with a small sample of genetic material, they were able to find and determine how each person differed from another. One year later, the first trial involving DNA evidence was held. Countless trials have relied on this kind of evidence in the last 25 years, and countless criminals have been put behind bars because of it.
Three years after Jeffreys's development, a new and more sensitive method came into use. Created by Henry Erlich, the method was able to take an even smaller DNA sample (from hair, blood, semen, saliva, tissue, etc.) and identify it. This process combined the earlier techniques with PCR or polymerase chain reaction. They were able to amplify the DNA. This made it easier to get positive identifications.
Today, you will find that this kind of testing is very common, for criminal cases as well as paternity cases. As techniques and scientific knowledge advances, the processes involved in identifying people according to their genetic code is going to be easier and faster. The history of this science is still in its infancy, and it will be interesting to see where it all leads a few years down the road.
