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Timeline: History of DNA

A timeline beginning in 1863 and ending in the 2020s showing the history of DNA and its use in forensics.
Description
  • 1863: Genes and heredity
  • 1896: DNA isolation
  • 1900: ABO blood group antigens
  • 1920: Locard Principle
  • 1952: X-ray diffraction of DNA
  • 1953: DNA double helix structure
  • 1977: Sanger sequencing
  • 1980: Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)
  • 1983: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  • 1984: Variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs)
  • 1986: First use of DNA in criminal case
  • 1991: Short tandem repeats (STRs)
  • 1992: Y-STR use in criminal case; mitochondrial DNA use in criminal case
  • 1993: Real-time PCR
  • 1996: Pyrosequencing
  • 1997: Touch DNA and single cell DNA profiling
  • 1998: CODIS & NDIS; sequencing by synthesis
  • 2000: Massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS)
  • 2001: SNP and microbial forensics
  • 2007: Complete human genome sequence
  • 2011: Single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT)
  • 2012: Nanopore sequencing
  • 2020s: Continuous advancement of scientific technology