history of dna fingerprinting
DNA fingerprinting has become an important part of society in many different ways. It has allowed us to help to prove innocence or guilt in criminal cases, to help figure out immigration arguments and help clarify the fathers of children. This is all possible because of the work and research that Professor Sir Alec Jefferys did at the University of Leicester.
Professor Sir Alec Jefferys started his work in Amsterdam with Dick Flavell, working on how to find single copies of human genes. In 1977, Professor Jefferys transferred and moved to Leicester. Here he began his research using molecular biology techniques to look at human genetics. His work lead to him to discover a technique involved in the use of enzymes to target short DNA sequences and this cut the genome into pieces. In 1978, he was the first one to describe single nucleotide polymorphism. Professor Jefferys then focused his research on tandem repeat DNA, although in the beginning it was hard to locate this section in the human genome.
The breakthrough of DNA Fingerprinting was due to a different project that Professor Jefferys was working on. This was where him and his team were looking at myoglobin genes in humans. When they investigated the myoglobin gene in grey seals, because they produced a lot of myoglobin. Through this, they used the seal’s myoglobin to isolate the human’s corresponding gene using a minisatellite until a core was found. On September 10th, 1984, at Jefferys' lab in the University of Leicester (UK), the x-ray blot was developed. In the beginning, it was disregarded because it was a complete mess. However, when it was looked at again and in more depth, Professor Jeffery discovered that there were patterns present.
The breakthrough of DNA Fingerprinting was due to a different project that Professor Jefferys was working on. This was where him and his team were looking at myoglobin genes in humans. When they investigated the myoglobin gene in grey seals, because they produced a lot of myoglobin. Through this, they used the seal’s myoglobin to isolate the human’s corresponding gene using a minisatellite until a core was found. On September 10th, 1984, at Jefferys' lab in the University of Leicester (UK), the x-ray blot was developed. In the beginning, it was disregarded because it was a complete mess. However, when it was looked at again and in more depth, Professor Jeffery discovered that there were patterns present.
Currently, Professor Jefferys is analyzing recombination of hotspots. He is trying to see what causes them, and what affects they have on human genetic diversity. He is also looking at the implications of recombination of genes that are linked to diseases like thalassaemia and diabetes.
The potential for improving DNA fingerprinting technology and developing it further was in mind because two to three months later, the messy and grubby first picture of DNA fingerprinting became cleaner and refined in order to show cleaner and clearer patterns in the DNA. This allowed everyone to see that his or her DNA was unique and individual and clearly readable.
Through this discovery, a whole new world opened up for forensic investigations, paternity, as well as immigration disputes and clarifying family relationships because of Professor Jefferys and the discovery of DNA Fingerprinting.
The potential for improving DNA fingerprinting technology and developing it further was in mind because two to three months later, the messy and grubby first picture of DNA fingerprinting became cleaner and refined in order to show cleaner and clearer patterns in the DNA. This allowed everyone to see that his or her DNA was unique and individual and clearly readable.
Through this discovery, a whole new world opened up for forensic investigations, paternity, as well as immigration disputes and clarifying family relationships because of Professor Jefferys and the discovery of DNA Fingerprinting.