Laboratory notes written during the preparation of an autoradiograph of the first genetic fingerprint, Leicester England, 1984

Laboratory notes on two sides of A4 lined paper, handwritten by Alec Jeffreys during the preparation of autoradiograph, 1989-870 Pt1.

Written by Alec Jeffreys, these laboratory notes detail the process of making the autoradiograph of the first genetic fingerprint. Apart from identical twins, everybody’s DNA has a characteristic pattern. Similarities in patterns can identify family members. Sir Alec (b. 1950) is an English geneticist who discovered genetic fingerprinting almost by accident while working at the University of Leicester. It has now become an invaluable police tool, identifying criminals from blood, skin or saliva left at crime scenes.