Medal honour for Capital's DNA pioneer

ONE of the first scientists to discover inherited variation in human DNA is to be awarded the Edinburgh Medal.

Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys is the 22nd recipient of the award, presented annually to the men and women of science and technology whose achievements are judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and wellbeing of humanity.

Sir Alec went on to invent DNA fingerprinting, proving it could help resolve issues of identity and kinship, which has now impacted directly on millions of people across the world.

George Grubb, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of Edinburgh, said: "Sir Alec Jeffreys' scientific accomplishments are quite astonishing. His pioneering work in the field of DNA fingerprinting continues to impact directly on the lives of many millions of people across the world.

"It is a tremendous honour to present Sir Alec with the Edinburgh Medal."

Sir Alec will receive the award on 14 April, during the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

In 1994, he was given a knighthood for services to genetics and also received the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine in 2004.