Forensic science is the analysis and interpretation of evidence that is part of a legal investigation process. It has its origins in Latin and the earliest known forensic autopsy was performed in 44 BC on Julius Caesar. In the modern era, fingerprinting of criminals began in 1906 in New York City and DNA evidence was first used to solve a crime in 1986 in England, identifying Colin Pitchfork as the murderer of two young girls. Forensic science has advanced identification techniques through toxicology, fingerprint analysis, and DNA profiling.

1. Forensic Science

2. Forensics is the analysis and interpretation of evidence that is a part of a legal investigative process.

3. Forensic is from the Latin word forensis meaning used in the court of law.

4. The first forensic autopsy was performed on Julius Caesar by the Roman physician Antistius in 44 B.C.

5. In 1836 a Scottish Chemist named James Marshwas the first to use toxicology in a jury trial.

6. The fingerprinting of criminals in the U.S. began in the New York City Police Department in 1906. Then in 1918, Edmond Locard, suggested 12 matching points as a positive fingerprint identification.

7. In 1924 August Vollmer implemented the first U.S. police crime laboratory.

8. Starting in 1977 the FBI introduced the beginnings of its Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) with the first computerized scans of fingerprints.

9. 1986 brought about the first use of DNA to solve a crime. DNA was used in England to identify ColinPitchfork as the murderer of two young girls. In 1987 DNA profiling was introduced in the United States criminal court system.

10. Credits http://www.forensicdna.com/Timeline020702.pdf www.tech-faq.com/forensic-science.shtml http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00206/index1.htm