His discovery of the DNA fingerprint two decades ago made DNA profiling and testing possible.

NPR: Pioneering DNA Forensics

Faced with the problem that DNA gathered at the scene did not match any sample in the national DNA database, they tried what is known as "ancestral DNA profiling".

BBC: Night Stalker case: Delroy Grant's reign of terror ends

Since the DNA profiling discovery in 1984, Sir Alec has won world acclaim for his work.

BBC: Sir Alec Jeffreys (PA)

However, as DNA profiling ceases to be the sole province of the police, Prof Jeffreys said he has other concerns too.

BBC: DNA pioneer's 'eureka' moment

The team that developed the test says it could provide valuable leads in cases where perpetrators cannot be identified through DNA profiling.

BBC: Forensic test can predict hair and eye colour from DNA

The US, Canada, Australia and most European countries have followed the UK's lead, with DNA profiling internationally regarded as the most important breakthrough in modern policing.

BBC: DNA and individual freedom v crime prevention

It brings together information provided by Scotland's police forces to help identify cases that could be cracked through advances in evidence gathering techniques such as DNA profiling.

BBC: Malcolm Webster

DNA-profiling services at the time, was asked to perform the necessary analysis.

ECONOMIST: CASE HISTORY: DNA's detective story | The

"ICMP's involvement in Katrina victim identification efforts will be limited to the profiling of bone samples for DNA, " the commission said in a statement posted on its Web site.

CNN: War graves experts to help with Katrina IDs

An important current approach, known as genetic profiling, involves comparing crime scene DNA with that from a suspect or with a profile stored in a database.

BBC: Forensic test can predict hair and eye colour from DNA