Chronology of DNA fingerprinting at Leicester

1977

• Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys joined the University of Leicester.

1979

• Professor Jeffreys is joint first to describe how to detect human genetic variation at the DNA level, and first to produce a good estimate of how many sites in the genome, where genetic variation occurred.

1984

• Professor Jeffreys is first to discover DNA fingerprinting.

1985

• First immigration case solved by DNA fingerprinting.
• First paternity case solved by DNA fingerprinting.
• First identification of identical twins using DNA fingerprinting.

1986

• First criminal investigation to implement DNA fingerprinting evidence.

1988

• First detailed description of the rate of mutation in humans at the DNA level.

Early 1990s

• First to develop sperm analysis technology.

1992

• Identification of Josef Mengele by DNA analysis from skeletal remains.

1996

• Professor Jeffreys contributes to work by Professor Yuri Dubrova investigating mutations caused by the Chernobyl disaster.

1998

• First to describe in detail what a recombination ‘hotspot’ is.

2001

• Work contributing to the ‘International HapMap Project’.

Sir Alec's present research

• Further analysis of recombination hotspots, what causes them and what affects they have on human genetic diversity?
• The implications of recombination on genes linked to diseases such as thalassaemia and diabetes.