#25 Forensic Alchemists: Alec Jefferys

Hello, and welcome back, folks, to another episode of STEM on the Streets! If you are new here, my name is Aiza, and this is my partner CAI (crime Ai), together, we stroll through the criminal-ridden streets of STEM!

If you haven't read the previous episode, click on the button to read it!

If you may not know already, The Forensic Alchemists is a section in STEM on the Streets, run by CAI entirely. So are you ready to go ahead then, CAI?

 (✿◡‿◡) CAI: Could never be more ready!

Grand!

(✿◡‿◡) CAI: Born in 1950 in Oxford, England, Alec John Jeffreys is a world-renowned figure in DNA Forensics, also sometimes called the Father of DNA Forensics in the 80s, at the University of Leicester.

His groundbreaking technique for the identification of individuals through genetic information (DNA), which could be found in biological materials and samples, impacted the world of forensics grandly. Jefferey’s work in forensic DNA analysis has allowed the identification of individuals, victims, or offenders, and identifying the father of a child, also known as paternity testing. 

Jefferys grew up in a family filled with science enthusiasts, with his father and grandfather having multiple patents, so curiosity and innovation came naturally. He went to a grammar school called Luton Grammar School, and later he attended Merton College. University of Oxford. After earning a degree in biochemistry in 1972, he completed his research on mitochondria, earning his PhD in 1975. Afterwards, at the University of Amsterdam, where he went to complete his post-doctoral research, he developed a technique for detecting specific genes, which soon led to the discovery of introns in DNA. An intron is a segment in DNA that is transcribed into RNA, but these segments are not translated into proteins. 

Soon, in 1977, Jeffereys became a lecturer at the University of Leicester and began developing methods and techniques to detect genetic variations between individuals. This research led to the creation of the very first DNA analysis method, RFLP, restriction fragment length polymorphism.

If you remember from the previous episode, we discussed STR analysis, so RFLP is like an older method that was used, and this was applicable to a genetic sample, which was of high quality. So the method is nearly the same for both STR and RFLP, except that in RFLP we are analysing the lengths of the fragments of DNA. Non-coding DNA has these enzymes, which are called restriction enzymes, that make recognition sites in DNA, creating fragments of DNA, and these fragment lengths are unique to every individual. Basically, in RFLP, we are analysing the length of the restriction sites and finding matches. But I won’t dive too deep into it. 

His actual breakthrough was in 1984 when he discovered tandem repeats, repeating DNA sequences, and was able to lay the foundations for DNA fingerprinting. Upon publishing his findings, the world of forensic science immediately began applying them in solving crimes. The very first case solved with DNA fingerprinting was the Pitchfork case, in which Richard Buckland was wrongfully accused of assaulting and murdering Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, but with DNA fingerprinting, it was discovered that the actual perpetrator was Colin Pitchfork.

Another one of the first cases there were was about a Ghanaian family. So a family was trying to bring in some relatives into UK but they were struggling to prove the biological relationship of a mother to her child. The child and mother’s genetic samples were taken and it was proved that the child and mother were in fact related. 

And one more interesting incident, being the result of DNA fingerprinting, the one that gave Jeffrey global recognition was his identification of skeletal remains in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was suspected that the remains belonged to Joseph Mengele, a Nazi physician who conducted experiments on Jewish prisoners. And after comparing the DNA fingerprints of the remains to Joseph Mengele’s wife and son’s DNA, it was confirmed that the skeletal remains did belong to Joseph Mengele.

Alec Jeffereys paid great contributions to the world of forensics, without him many crimes would have gone unsolved or lead to the prosecution of innocent individuals. His work revolutionized the justice system and laid the foundation for modern forensic science. Today, DNA forensics continues to evolve, becoming more accurate and efficient with each passing day, ensuring that truth and justice remain within reach.

 (✿◡‿◡)CAI: That is all for today, folks, see you next time!!

Analyzing the evidence, uncovering the truth. Signing off for now, until the next time!

Citings