Development of CSI Sciences & Techniques

Fingerprint Recognition

221 BCE

Fingerprint recognition was first used by the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC. This is the earliest record we have of fingerprints being used for crime scene investigations.

First Recorded Autopsy

44 BCE

The first ever recorded autopsy was carried out by a Roman physician named Antistius. The autopsy was performed on the late Julius Ceaser.

Lie Detector Tests

250

An early form of lie detecting was discovered by a Greek doctor named Erasistratus. He found that his patient's heart rate would rapidly increase when lying.

Exact Time of Death

1800

It wasn't until around 1800 that crime scene investigators started using body temperature and internal bodily gasses as a way of determining the approximate - and sometimes even the exact - time of death.

Bullet Analysis

1835

Henry Goddard figured out that bullets could be removed from a victim's body and and analyzed to determine what kind of weapon it came from. This was a breakthrough in CSI sciences because it allowed investigators to track down the suspect by cross referencing the bullet with the gun that was used.

Fingerprint Matching

1880

In 1880, Sir Francis Galton came up with some of the first modern-day fingerprint matching techniques (not to be confused with fingerprint recognition first used by the Qin Dynasty).

Psychological Profiling

1960

In 1960, the FBI began using psychology to help track down suspect in relation to crime scenes.

DNA Matching

1986

DNA matching was first used in 1986 to help crime scene investigators determine who the suspect was in relation to a crime. Interestingly, it was actually used for the first time to prove a suspect's innocence - not guilt.