I just finished watching Dateline and the case, on the show, was solved using DNA evidence.  I was curious. What was the first case solved using DNA evidence?
I just finished watching Dateline and the case, on the show, was solved using DNA evidence.  I was curious. What was the first case solved using DNA evidence?
user
That’s a good question, I don’t know the exact answer off the top of my head.  I believe the first “beyond a reasonable doubt” case was the well-known “Tylenol poisonings”, in 1982, although the first "true" DNA case was in 1985.
assistant
The first person convicted by DNA evidence according to Wikipedia is Colin Pitchfork.
user
That sounds about right.
assistant
Yes, it goes on to say; "In 1985, Alec Jeffreys, a genetics researcher at the University of Leicester, developed DNA profiling along with Peter Gill and Dave Werrett of the Forensic Science Service." so it seems you were correct that it occurred in 1985. Be honest, did you guess?
user