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Brief introduction to human DNA fingerprinting

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DNA Fingerprinting: State of the Science

Part of the book series: Progress in Systems and Control Theory ((EXS))

Abstract

In early 1985, Jeffreys et al. (1985b) described the first development of multilocus DNA fingerprints and speculated that these individual-specific DNA patterns might provide a powerful method for individual identification and paternity testing. At the time, it was thought that the implementation of these applications would be protracted, and that major legal problems would be encountered as DNA evidence proceeded from the research laboratory to the court room. Subsequent history showed that this prediction was unduly pessimistic. By April 1985 the first case, involving a UK immigration dispute, had been satisfactorily resolved by DNA fingerprinting (Jeffreys et al., 1985a). Shortly thereafter, DNA evidence in a paternity dispute was admitted in a UK civil court. DNA typing in criminal investigations saw its debut in October 1986 with the Enderby murder case, an investigation which led to the first instance of the release of a prime suspect proved innocent by DNA evidence (Gill and Werrett, 1987; Wong et al., 1987; see Wambaugh, 1989). By 1987, DNA typing results had been admitted in evidence in criminal courts in the UK and USA, and in 1988 the UK Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office had ratified the use of DNA fingerprinting for the resolution of immigration disputes which hinge upon disputed family relationships (Home Office, 1988).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LEI 7RH, England

    A. J. Jeffreys

  2. Núcleo de Genética Médica de Minas Gerais (GENE/MG), Av. Afonso Pena 3111/9, 30130-909, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    S. D. J. Pena

Authors
  1. A. J. Jeffreys
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  2. S. D. J. Pena
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Núcleo de Genética Médica de Minas Gerais (GENE/MG), Av. Afonso Pena 3111/9, 30130-909, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    S. D. J. Pena

  2. Genetics Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, PO Box 20334, Houston, Texas, 77225, USA

    R. Chakraborty

  3. Molekulare Humangenetik, MA, Ruhr-Universität, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany

    J. T. Epplen

  4. Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LEI 7RH, England

    Alec J. Jeffreys

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© 1993 Springer Basel AG

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Jeffreys, A.J., Pena, S.D.J. (1993). Brief introduction to human DNA fingerprinting. In: Pena, S.D.J., Chakraborty, R., Epplen, J.T., Jeffreys, A.J. (eds) DNA Fingerprinting: State of the Science. Progress in Systems and Control Theory. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8583-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8583-6_1

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-2906-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8583-6

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