He was the first to use PCR testing on crime-scene DNA, inspiring a practice that has freed thousands of wrongfully convicted people. Edward T. Blake passed away due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. He is credited with being THE forensic expert that sparked the Innocence Movement, using PCR to help set wrongfully convicted people free. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go behind the scenes of the life of Forensic Scientist Edward T. Blake and explore how the technology he helped develop showed up on the big screen as Jurassic Park but showed up in courtrooms across the country as a way to prove a convicted person innocent of the crime as charged. Transcribe Highlights 00:00.03 Introduction 02:12.96 Edward Blake has died, led to exoneration of more than 50 people 06:26.42 Peter Neufeld calls Edward Blake the Ted Williams of DNA 09:53.90 What is a "forensic prostitute" 15:16.69 using fragmented DNA 20:08.12 DNA Replication and Jurassic Park 25:08.04 Blake was a problem solver 30:12.93 Work as a forensic scientist 35:07.77 Testing methodology 40:01.81 Blake set the standard 42:07.71 Conclusion D See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
