Forensic Chemist

[ariesness]

I'm currently working on a presentation for my advanced Chemistry class. Our assignment is to research a famous Chemist (who must be born no earlier than 1850) and design a 20 minute presentation.

I'd like to do a chemist who helped with a major advancement in the field of forensics.

I'd appreciate any help anyone could provide, whether it's a suggestion for a person (which I could really use) or a good site for finding information on forensics or any ideas for my presentation.

[jkellmd]

How about the guy who thought up the PCR (polymerase chain reaction)? I remember hearing he was a chemistry grad student, and now is a surfer or something (possibly erroneous). In any case, PCR was a HUGE breakthrough, as you probably know, and forms the backbone of molecular biological research. It realtes to forensics via its use in rapid replication/amplification of genentic samples. Good luck!