Former Luton schoolboy nominated for top international award
Sir Alec Jeffreys shortlisted for Millennium Technology Prize
One of Luton's most lauded sons - Sir Alec Jeffreys, who invented DNA fingerprinting - has been shortlisted for the world's biggest technology award, the 2008 Millennium Technology Prize.
The former Luton Grammar School pupil, now professor at Leicester University's department of genetics, was nominated for his invention of DNA fingerprinting used in identification of criminal suspects and in paternity and immigration disputes. The citation states: "No other development in modern genetics has had such a profound impact worldwide on the lives of many millions of people."
Sir Alec revolutionised the field of forensic science. Today DNA fingerprints are examined everywhere - even in portable laboratories - and the equipment for genetic fingerprinting is being made by dozens of companies around the world.
The Millennium Technology Prize is awarded bi-ennially by Finland's for "innovation that significantly improves the quality of human life, today and in the future." The prize pool is Euros 1.5 million. The winner will be awarded Euros 800,000 and the remainder will be split between the other nominees.
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