-
Discovery of DNA
In 1869, Scientist Friedrich Miescher discovered a new substance located inside of cells. Miescher named the substance nuclein and was later known as DNA -
Three- Dimensional Double Helix
James Watson and Francis Crick, discovered DNA as a double helix. The importance of this model was the profound on philosophy of biology, disease understanding, forensics, and biotechnology. https://youtu.be/of_2Rq81hoI?si=1aYgYqnVUMHehyOK -
DNA as evidence
In 1986, police in the United Kingdom investigating a double rape and murder. After a confession police asked Dr. Alec J. Jeffreys to match DNA for the suspect to the DNA from the crime scene. It was found that it did not match. -
DNA and a Prosecution
In 1987, a rape and burglary was committed in Florida. A suspect, Tommie Lee Andrews was arrested. His blood was drawn and the DNA matched with the semen found at the crime scene. Tommie Lee Andrews was found guilty in court and sentenced to 22 years in prison. https://nij.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh171/files/media/document/andrews-v-florida.pdf -
DNA database
Forensic Scientists and Detectives soon found the need to store DNA for future use. The first DNA database was established in England in 1995. Soon adopted by the United States and is know today as Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) -
DNA and the Family Tree
In 2018, Joseph James DeAngelo (The Golden State Killer) was arrested for committing rapes and murders between 1974 to 1986. Using DNA evidence from the crime scenes detectives were able to find a close match to DNA from an online ancestry website. With the family tree known to detectives they were able to narrow the search down to DeAngelo. https://youtu.be/qePHTVUQowI?si=tkpUQ_sf41pTl0c7