Home›Landmark Cases›Forensic Discipline Used›DNA ProfilingForensic Disciplines and MethodsDNA ProfilingAlso Known As Genetic fingerprintingPathology and BiologyReference and ClassificationDevelopingThe identification of individuals through their genetic material, developed by Alec Jeffreys. It was first used to convict a criminal in the Colin Pitchfork case of 1988, and has since become a central technology for both conviction and exoneration. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/FactsDNA ProfilingConnectionsSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsWhat It ExaminesWell-attestedHighly variable regions of the human genome, compared between a crime scene sample and a known sample to establish or exclude a common source with quantifiable statistical weight. 1Formalized YearWell-attested1984 2Sourced to the subject's own accountThe year Alec Jeffreys developed DNA fingerprinting at the University of Leicester.Known LimitationWell-attestedPartial, degraded or mixed samples from more than one contributor can reduce the statistical power of a match and complicate interpretation of the profile. 1DisciplineDiscipline (category)Well-attestedPathology / Biology (incl. DNA) 1DNA ProfilingFilter Results7 entriesCase EraAll1988 (1)1989 (1)1993 (1)1994 (1)2001 (1)2007 (1)2018 (1)Investigating InstitutionAllKing County Sheriff's Office (1)Leicestershire Constabulary (1)Los Angeles Police Department (1)New York City Police Department (1)Polizia di Stato (1)West Memphis Police Department (1)Concept IllustratedAllChain of Custody (1)Cold Case (2)False Confession (1)Satanic Panic (1)Wrongful Conviction (3)Offense InvolvedAllAssault (1)Murder (6)Rape (2)Serial Murder (2)Sexual Assault (1)Location or JurisdictionAllCalifornia, United States (1)Central Park, New York City, United States (1)King County, Washington, United States (1)Leicestershire, England (1)Los Angeles, California, United States (1)Perugia, Italy (1)West Memphis, Arkansas, United States (1)Group TreeAllContested Confessions and Convictions (2)DNA Identification Cases (3)Modern High-Profile Murder Prosecutions (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 7Amanda Knox CaseDNA ProfilingCentral Park Jogger CaseDNA ProfilingColin Pitchfork CaseDNA ProfilingGolden State Killer CaseDNA ProfilingGreen River Killer CaseDNA ProfilingO. J. Simpson Murder CaseDNA ProfilingWest Memphis Three CaseDNA ProfilingConnectionsAssociated WithCODIS, Criminal Justice Institutions Well-attested ConnectedCODIS is the national database infrastructure built on DNA profiling.Source Wikipedia: Combined DNA Index Systemtier 3Forensic Serology, Forensic Disciplines and Methods Well-attested ConnectedForensic serology historically preceded DNA profiling and now commonly serves as its preliminary screening step.Source Wikipedia: Forensic Serologytier 3National Forensic Sciences University, Criminal Justice Institutions Well-attested ConnectedNFSU, a dedicated forensic-science university, runs its own DNA-analysis laboratories and degree coursework alongside its other forensic disciplines.Source Wikipedia: National Forensic Sciences Universitytier 2UK National DNA Database, Criminal Justice Institutions Well-attested ConnectedThe database holds DNA profiles taken from individuals and crime scenes for identification and matching.Source Wikipedia: National DNA Databasetier 3Cases Where UsedAmanda Knox Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested ConnectedA court-ordered independent review found numerous basic errors in how the contested DNA evidence was gathered and analyzed.Source Wikipedia: Murder of Meredith Kerchertier 3Central Park Jogger Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested ConnectedPost-conviction DNA testing matched semen evidence to Matias Reyes rather than to the five originally convicted teenagers.Source Wikipedia: Central Park Jogger Casetier 3Colin Pitchfork Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested The first murder conviction obtained through DNA profiling.Source Wikipedia: Colin Pitchforktier 3Golden State Killer Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested ConnectedInvestigative genetic genealogy built on a public genealogy-database DNA match identified Joseph James DeAngelo in 2018.Source Wikipedia: Joseph James DeAngelotier 3Green River Killer Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested DNA analysis of preserved evidence identified Gary Ridgway two decades after the murders.Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgwaytier 3O. J. Simpson Murder Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested ConnectedDNA evidence from blood at the scene and on physical evidence was central to the prosecution case.Source Wikipedia: O. J. Simpson murder casetier 3West Memphis Three Case, Landmark Cases Well-attested ConnectedPost-conviction DNA testing that found no biological evidence linking the defendants to the crime scene was central to the Alford plea that freed them in 2011.Source Wikipedia: West Memphis Threetier 3Examines WithinPathology and Biology, Subcategories Well-attested Pioneered ByAlec Jeffreys, Criminologists and Reformers Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Alec Jeffreystier 3Sources1. Saferstein, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Sciencetier 1Richard Saferstein, Pearson2. Wikipedia: Alec Jeffreystier 3In Group: Biological Evidence and DNA, Lead sentenceQuote, In Group: Biological Evidence and DNA, Lead sentenceSir Alec John Jeffreys (born 9 January 1950) is a British geneticist known for developing techniques for genetic fingerprinting and DNA profiling which are now used worldwide in forensic science to assist police detective work and to resolve paternity and immigration disputes.View the SourceWikipedia: Combined DNA Index Systemtier 3Associated With: CODISView the SourceWikipedia: Colin Pitchforktier 3Cases Where Used: Colin Pitchfork CaseView the SourceWikipedia: Gary Ridgwaytier 3Cases Where Used: Green River Killer CaseView the SourceWikipedia: Forensic Serologytier 3Associated With: Forensic Serology, Opening definitionView the SourceWikipedia: Murder of Meredith Kerchertier 3Cases Where Used: Amanda Knox Case, DNA evidence review sectionQuote, Cases Where Used: Amanda Knox Case, DNA evidence review sectionno evidential trace of Kercher's DNA had been found on the alleged murder weaponView the SourceWikipedia: National DNA Databasetier 3Associated With: UK National DNA Database, Lead sectionQuote, Associated With: UK National DNA Database, Lead sectionThe first national DNA database in the United Kingdom was established in April 1995, called National DNA Database (NDNAD).View the SourceWikipedia: Joseph James DeAngelotier 3Cases Where Used: Golden State Killer CaseView the SourceWikipedia: O. J. Simpson murder casetier 3Cases Where Used: O. J. Simpson Murder CaseView the SourceWikipedia: Central Park Jogger Casetier 3Cases Where Used: Central Park Jogger CaseView the SourceWikipedia: West Memphis Threetier 3Cases Where Used: West Memphis Three CaseView the SourceWikipedia: National Forensic Sciences Universitytier 2Associated With: National Forensic Sciences UniversityView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.