While some fear the invasion of privacy contingent on DNA databases produced from DNA fingerprinting, it is undeniable that the technique has had a positive impact in areas such as forensics, paternity testing, and animal classification.
After studying at Oxford University, biochemist Alee Jeffreys (b. 1950) became a professor in 1977 at the University of Leicester, where he worked on DNA variation and genetic evolution in families. He studied inheritance patterns of disease, specifically in what are called "mini-satellites," or areas of great genetic variation that occur in the human DNA sequence outside of core genes.
In 1984, while studying mini-satellites in the DNA of seals, Jeffreys tested a probe made of DNA on samples from various different people using X-ray film. When he developed the film, he saw what he described as a "complicated mess." Upon closer examination, however, he realized that certain patterns occurred that varied greatly from person to person. The mini-satellite DNA pattern from each person was unique, just like a fingerprint.
Jeffreys quickly realized the implication of his discovery, especially in the field of forensic science. He. obtained patents in 1984 and published a series of papers in the journal Nature in 1985. The technique was first used in a U.K. immigration dispute, and in 1986 it was used in a criminal case in Leicestershire. DNA fingerprinting is now standard practice In criminal cases, and newer techniques have automated the process to produce quick and reliable results.
