[3] This work paved the way for many well-known genetic concepts and procedures such as DNA fingerprinting, the prenatal diagnosis of disorders using genetic markers, the extensive heterogeneity of inherited diseases, and the mapping of human genes to chromosomes[1] Born in Manchester, Harris attended Manchester Grammar School before continuing his education at Trinity College, Cambridge,[4] and Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he received a Bachelor of Arts (1941),[5] a Bachelor of Medicine (1943),[5] a Master of Arts (1946) (for "The Aetiology of Premature Baldness")[5] and a doctorate in medicine (1949).
The second research focus was on gene product analysis, where he used starch gel electrophoresis to explore the genetic diversity of plasma proteins (such as haptoglobins and transferrins).
[6] The main purpose of the Unit was to investigate the extent of genetic variation in healthy humans using family and population studies and simple screening techniques.
In 1965, Harris returned to UCL and succeeded Lionel Penrose as professor of human genetics, a post he held until 1976.
In 1976 Harris and his wife left England for the University of Pennsylvania, where he held the position of Harnwell Professor of Human Genetics.
[1] He was named a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences,[2] and earned the William Allan Award of the American Society of Human Genetics in 1968.