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Watson and Crick discover double helix structure
James Watson and Francis Crick win the race to discover the structure of DNA after seing Rosalind Franklin's x-ray crystallography photos. -
Ray White describes first polymorphic RFLP marker
RFLPs (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) are strands of DNA that repeat over and over again. Each person has a unique number and pattern of RFLPs. -
Kary Mullis develops PCR
The discovery of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) allowed small amounts of DNA to be replicated, producing millions of copies in a few short hours. -
Alec Jeffreys develops DNA fingerprinting technique
Alec Jeffreys discovers that each person has a unique genetic fingerprint that is a combination of their parents', after noticing that one of his lab assistants inherited bands from each of her parents. -
DNA casework started at FBI
The FBI begins to use DNA evidence as a means of convicting criminals. -
First use of STR in DNA analysis
STR polymorphisms are shown to have an extended life and more reliability for identifying individuals than VNTRs. -
FBI launches Codis Database