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Gregor Mendel
Gregor Mendel studied the inheritance of traits passed between generations based on experiments involving the breeding of pea plants. Mendel established the principles of inheritance. principles of dominance, independent assortment, and segregation. Mendel has since been known as the "Father of Genetics". -
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Genetic Fingerprinting
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Erwin Chargoff
Erwin Chargaff discovered the pairings for the nitrogenous bases (known as Chargaff's Rules). He determined that thymine and adenine always pair together in DNA and cytosine and guanine always pair together in DNA. -
The Structure of DNA
James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA at Oxford University. by building multiple models, and studying the x-ray crystallography work done by Rosalind Franklin, Watson and Crick were able to present an accurate representation of the structure of DNA. Watson and Crick later earned the Nobel Prize in 1962 for their work. -
Kary Mullis
Kary Mullis developed a technique that became known as polymerase chain reaction. the polymerase chain reaction ampilifies DNA and allows researchers to make millions of copies of a specific DNA region. -
The Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is a scientific research project that focuses on mapping a human's entire genetic makeup. -
The First Genetic Fingerprint
On September 10, 1984 at 9:05 am, Sir Alec Jeffreys discovered the technique for genetic fingerprinting. Genetic fingerprinting is the process of identifying a person from their personal genetic makeup. DNA evidence pulled from genetic fingerprinting has been the deciding factor in thousands of court cases all around the world. -
First Use of Genetic Fingerprinting in Criminal Courts
Genetic fingerprinting was used for the first time ever in criminal courts. DNA evidence was used to catch the culprit of two rape-murders in England. -
Body Identification
The body of Josef Mengele, a Holocaust war criminal who performed cruel experiments on the prisoners of Auschwitz, was positively identified using DNA analysis. -
The Human Genome Project
The full and complete findings of The Human Genome Project are published.
