Which scientist developed DNA fingerprinting in 1984?

Alec Jeffreys developed DNA fingerprinting in 1984.

Working at the University of Leicester, Jeffreys discovered that certain regions of human DNA contain highly variable repeated sequences. In 1984, he recognized that patterns from these regions could produce an identifying genetic profile, sometimes called a DNA fingerprint. The first public description followed in 1985.

Early DNA fingerprinting used restriction enzymes and Southern blotting to reveal variable-number tandem repeats. Modern forensic profiling generally examines sets of short tandem repeats and compares the resulting allele pattern between samples. Because unrelated people usually differ at many such markers, a profile can be highly discriminating.

DNA profiling is not the same as reading a person’s entire genome. It usually examines selected markers for identification and relationship testing. Identical twins are a notable limitation because they generally share the same standard nuclear DNA profile.