| Year | Events |
|---|---|
| 1900 | Landsteiner discovered the first genetic polymorphism, human ABO blood groups. |
| 1915 | Lattes introduced and used the first antibody test for blood group (ABO). |
| 1920 | Locard lays down principle that “every contact leaves a trace”. |
| 1920-1950s | Discovery and application of new blood groups and serum proteins (e.g., MNSs system, Rhesus, Lewis, Kell, haptoglobin). |
| 1960s- 1980s | Jeffreys invented multilocus DNA fingerprinting, which was followed by single-locus profiling (SLP). |
| 1984 | Electrophoretic variants of red blood cell enzymes were discovered and used (e.g., phosphoglucomutase, glyoxylase). |
| 1986 | First time DNA was used in a criminal case (identification of double murderer Colin Pitchfork, in Leicestershire, UK) |
| 1986 | First forensic application of a PCR-based assay utilizing SNPs at the HLA-DQA1 locus. |
| 1987 | The decision in New York v. Castro on the admissibility of DNA evidence resulted in strict quality control. |
| 1988 | First commercial forensic PCR kit detecting SNPs at the polymorphic HLA-DQA1 locus by dot blot and oligonucleotide hybridization. |
| 1991 | First useful polymorphic human STRs have been identified. |
| 1992 | First commercial forensic STR profiling kit was developed. |
| 1992 | First Y-STR was described and used in a rape acquittal (Germany). |
| 1992 | First application of mtDNA in casework (UK) |
| 1992 | The National Research Council report on DNA Technology in Forensic Science was published. |
| 1993 | First mass disaster case (Waco, Texas) |
| 1995 | A national DNA database has been established in the United Kingdom (STR profiles). |
| 1996 | The National Research Council report on The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence was published. |
| 1997 | DNA profiling of touched objects and single cells has been demonstrated. |
References:
- Fundamentals of Forensic DNA TypingBy John M. Butler
- Forensic Biology Identification and DNA Analysis of Biological Evidence By Richard Li