DNA is the genetic building block of the human body and its value for identification was first discovered by Sir Alec Jeffreys from the University of Leicester, UK in 1984.  His research was first utilised only a year later in 1985 when asked to investigate the familial relationship of a boy whose family was originally from Ghana but resident in the UK.

Forensic DNA fingerprinting was first used to establish the identity of the killer of two teenage girls from Leicestershire in 1986.  Colin Pitchfork was subsequently convicted of their murders after samples taken from him, matched with swabs taken at the murder scene.  

DNA does not always survive well, and so to extract DNA from a skeleton that has been exposed in woodland will require either a sample from the internal cavity of a tooth or the cavity of a long bone, because it is well protected.  The FA will most likely cut a slice (called a doughnut because of its shape – a hole in the middle) from the middle of the shaft of the femur (thigh bone) and that will be sent for DNA profiling.  The results will be compared to the DNA database which holds profiles of all those convicted of crimes.