Professor Sir Alec John Jeffreys, FRS, (born in 9 January 1950 at Luton in Bedfordshire) is a British geneticist, who developed techniques for DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling. The Fellowship of the Royal Society was founded in 1660. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Town crest Luton is a large town and local government district in England, located 51 km (32 miles) north of London. ... Bedfordshire is a county in England and forms part of the East of England region. ... Look up geneticist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Genetic fingerprinting or DNA testing is a technique to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix. ...

After graduating from the University of Oxford, he moved to the University of Leicester in 1977, where he developed genetic fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting uses variations in the genetic code to identify individuals. The technique has been applied in forensics for law enforcement, to resolve paternity and immigration disputes, and can be applied to non-human species, for example in wildlife population genetics studies. The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... University of Leicester seen from Victoria Park - Left to right: the Department of Engineering, the Attenborough tower, the Charles Wilson building. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Genetic fingerprinting, DNA testing, DNA typing, and DNA profiling are techniques used to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. ... RNA codons. ... Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. ... Population genetics is the study of the distribution of and change in allele frequencies under the influence of the four evolutionary forces: natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and migration. ...

Jeffrey's DNA technique was used in the first regional screen of human DNA to identify the rapist and killer of two girls in Narborough, Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986. Colin Pitchfork was identified through the screen and convicted of murder after samples taken from him matched semen samples taken from the two dead girls. Narborough is a village south of Leicester, England. ... Leicestershire (IPA: , abbreviated Leics) is a landlocked county in central England. ... Colin Pitchfork Colin Pitchfork (born . ... Horse semen being collected for breeding purposes. ...

Jeffreys refined his DNA fingerprinting technique, by developing DNA profiling based on highly variable minisatellites in the human genome. DNA profiling therefore focused on just a few of these highly variable minisatellites, making the system more sensitive, more reproducible and amenable to computer databasing. With highly automated and sophisticated equipment, the modern-day DNA fingerprinter can process hundreds of samples a day. Jeffreys' DNA profiling technique was the basis for the UK National DNA Database (NDNAD) launched in Britain in 1995. Under British law, anyone arrested has their DNA profile stored on a database (whether or not they are convicted). The DNA information of 3 million people is now stored on that database. Jeffreys has opposed the current use of his invention, where the government have access to that database, and has instead proposed a database of all people's DNA, whose access would be controlled by an independent third party. [1] Genetic fingerprinting or DNA testing is a technique to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. ... A minisatellite is a section of DNA that consists of a short series of bases 10-100bp, these occur at more than 1000 locations in the Genome. ... The United Kingdom National DNA Database (NDNAD; officially the UK National Criminal Intelligence DNA Database) was set up in 1995. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Jeffreys and his team are now studying the effects of chronic irradiation such as that which has followed the melt down of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl. Other areas of interest include analysis of human genome instability and recombination processes by single gamete and transgenic approaches. He is also investigating the effects of ionising radiation on germline mutation. Chernobyl area. ... The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens. ... Recombination usually refers to the biological process of genetic recombination and meiosis, a genetic event that occurs during the formation of sperm and egg cells. ... Gametes, from the ancient Greek γαμετης (spouse), are the specialized germ cells that come together during fertilization (conception) in organisms that reproduce sexually. ...

He was elected an FRS in 1986, appointed as a Royal Society Research Professor in 1991 and declared Midlander of the Year in 1989. He was made a freeman of the City of Leicester in 1992, and was knighted in 1994. In 1996, he was awarded the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. He was awarded the Australia Prize in 1998. In 2004 he was awarded his D.Sc. by the University of Leicester and the Royal Medal by the Royal Society. In 2005 he was awarded the Lasker Award for clinical medical research, with Edwin Southern of Oxford University. In December 2006 he was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the University of Liverpool. The premises of the Royal Society in London (first four properties only). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The premises of the Royal Society in London (first four properties only). ... Midlander of the Year is an annual award, recognising people deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to the social, sporting, political or cultural life of the English Midlands. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Freedom of the City is an award made by English towns and cities, to esteemed members of its community; such people may then be termed Freemen or Freewomen of the City. ... Leicester city centre, looking towards the Clock Tower Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city in the East Midlands of England. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... A statue of an armoured knight of the Middle Ages For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... The Albert Einstein World Award for Science is a yearly award given by the World Cultural Council as a means of recognition, and as an incentive to scientific and technological research and development, with special consideration for researches which have brought true benefit and well being to mankind. The award... The Australia Prize was Australias pre-eminent prize for scientific research from 1990 until 2000, when it was replaced by the Prime Ministers Prizes for Science. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Sc. ... The Royal Medals of the Royal Society of London were established by King George IV. They were further supported with certain changes to their conditions, by King William IV and Queen Victoria. ... The premises of the Royal Society in London (first four properties only). ... The Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science. ... Sir Edwin Southern (born 1938) is a 2005 Lasker Award-winning molecular biologist. ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

Jeffreys is a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association. The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism. ...

External links

• University of Leicester website
• Royal Society profile
• Article high-lighting Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys concerns about the use of DNA evidence