1991: National Research Council Committee on Forensic DNA (NRC I) publishes DNA Technology in Forensic Science.
In response to concerns about the practice of forensic DNA analysis, the National Research Council Committee on Forensic DNA (NRC I) publishes DNA Technology in Forensic Science.
1992: STR for forensic DNA Analysis
- Thomas Caskey and colleagues publish the first paper suggesting using short tandem repeats for forensic DNA analysis.
- Collaborating with Roche Molecular Systems, Promega Corporation, and Perkin-Elmer Corporation, independently develop commercial kits for forensic DNA STR typing.
1992: Introduction of Drugfire System
The FBI contracted with Mnemonic Systems to develop Drugfire, an automated imaging system to compare marks left on cartridge cases and shell casings, similar to IBIS. The ability to compare fired bullets was subsequently added.
1992: National Institute of Forensic Science commences operations.
National Institute of Forensic Science commences operations. Amongst its roles are the development of national standards of quality control and accreditation of forensic laboratories throughout Australia.
1993: The Daubert Standard
In Daubert et al. v. Merrell Dow, a U.S. federal court relaxed the Frye standard for admission of scientific evidence and conferred on the judge a “gatekeeping” role. The ruling cited Karl Popper’s views that scientific theories are falsifiable as a criterion for whether something is “scientific knowledge” and should be admissible.
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals establishes new rules for admitting scientific evidence into the courtroom and alters the Frye Rules set in 1923.
1994: Additional Markers to forensic DNA typing Sytem
Roche Molecular Systems (formerly Cetus) released a set of five additional DNA markers (“polymarker”) to add to the HLA-DQA1 forensic DNA typing system.
1995: The world’s first national DNA database commences
The world’s first national DNA database commences operations in the UK on 10 April 1995.
1996: The Second National Research Council Committee on Forensic DNA (NRC II)
In response to continued concerns about the statistical interpretation of forensic DNA evidence, a second National Research Council Committee on Forensic DNA (NRC II) was convened and published The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence.
1996: DNA Profiling used to Solve Cold Case
Rodney WINTERS is convicted of the rape and murder of a woman at South Australia’s Edinburgh Air Force base 14 years earlier. After DNA profiling matches him to semen found on the dead woman, WINTERS confesses.
1996: DNA evidence certified
National Academy of Sciences announces DNA evidence is reliable.
1996: Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) introduced
The FBI introduced computerized searches of the AFIS fingerprint database. Livescan and card scan devices allowed interdepartmental submissions.
1996: Mitochondrial DNA evidence in Courtroom:
In the US, mitochondrial DNA evidence is used in a court for the first time. Paul WARE is convicted of the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl after mitochondrial DNA profiling matches him to a hair found on the child’s body.
1998: The National DNA Index System (NDIS) becomes operational
The FBI sets up the National DNA Index System in the USA, enabling interstate cooperation and federal law enforcement agencies to compare DNA profiles electronically to link crimes.
1999: Faster fingerprint IDs
FBI establishes the integrated automated fingerprint identification system, cutting down fingerprint inquiry response from two weeks to two hours. The FBI upgraded its computerized fingerprint database and implemented the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), allowing paperless submission, storage, and search capabilities directly to the national database maintained at the FBI.
1999: National Integrated Ballistics Network (NIBIN)
A Memorandum of Understanding is signed between the FBI and ATF, allowing the use of the National Integrated Ballistics Network (NIBIN), to facilitate exchange of firearms data between Drugfire and IBIS
1999: One million DNA Profiles
In the UK, the Forensic Science Service announces that the number of DNA profiles of suspects and convicted criminals on the national DNA database has reached one million or roughly one third of the estimated criminally active population.
2001: Faster DNA Identification
Technology speeds up DNA profiling time, from 6-8 weeks to between 1-2 days.
2007: Footwear detection system
Britain’s Forensic Science Service develops online footwear coding and detection system. This helps police to identify footwear marks quickly.
2008: Detection after cleaning
A way for scientists to visualize fingerprints even after the print has been removed is developed, relating to how fingerprints can corrode metal surfaces.
2011: Facial sketches matched to photos
Michigan state university develops software that automatically matches hand-drawn facial sketches to mug shots stored in databases.
2011: Four second dental match:
Japanese researchers develop a dental x-ray matching system. This system can automatically match dental x-rays in a database and makes a positive match in less than 4 seconds.
2015: Forensic DNA phenotyping
Forensic DNA Phenotyping refers to the prediction of appearance traits of unknown sample donors, or unknown deceased (missing) persons, directly from biological materials found at the scene. “Biological witness” outcomes of Forensic DNA Phenotyping can provide investigative leads to trace unknown persons, who are unidentifiable with current comparative DNA profiling.
2018: Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG)
The arrest of Joseph DeAngelo as the suspected Golden State Killer in 2018 brought the investigative use of genetic genealogy to the world’s attention. Genetic genealogy has since been used to generate investigative leads in nearly 200 cold cases and some active investigations.
