BACKGROUND
What is a DNA?
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid and it is comprised of nucleotides that build the genetic information in organisms. These genetic information, known as genes, are preserved by DNA replicating itself to provide a copy to newly generated cells.
What is DNA profiling?
DNA profiling, which can also be called DNA testing or genetic fingerprinting, is a technique used by forensic scientists to identify a person's DNA profiles.
Here is a timeline of the history of DNA profiling.
1953- James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA.
1984- Alec Jeffreys discovered a way to identify one's DNA and was called DNA Fingerprinting.
1985- Police were the first to use DNA profiling in the United Kingdom.
Picture of a police solving for a crime.
1987- The UK police uses DNA profiling to solve a 17 year old rape murder.
1997- Victoria became the first jurisdiction in Australia to regulate the use of a DNA database.
1998- A common national standard was agreed on by the Australian forensic laboratories.
Picture of a forensic laboratory
2000- United Kingdom's Forensic Science Service stated that DNA profiles had reached one million of the active population.
2006- The NCIDD DNA profile matches the Western Australia and Northern Territory.
