Biotechnology and Medical Technology
Timeline of Biotechnology and Medical Technology - 1900-2000 | ||||
Fruit flies are used in the early study of genes. |
1900 |
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1901 |
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1902 |
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1903 |
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1904 |
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1905 |
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The term immunology (a science that deals with the immune system) is used for the first time. |
1906 |
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1907 |
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1908 |
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1909 |
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1910 |
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1911 |
The first cancer causing virus is discovered by Peyton Rous, an American scientist. | ||
1912 |
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1913 |
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Bacteria are used for treating sewage for the first time in Manchester, England. |
1914 |
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1915 |
Phages, (bacterial viruses) are discovered. | ||
1916 |
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1917 |
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1918 |
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1919 |
A Hungarian agricultural engineer first uses the word biotechnology. | ||
Evans and Long discover the human growth hormone. |
1920 |
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1921 |
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1922 |
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1923 |
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1924 |
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1926 |
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1927 |
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| The first antibiotic, penicillin, is discovered by Fleming. |
1928 |
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1929 |
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1930 |
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1931 |
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1932 |
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1933 |
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1934 |
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1935 |
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1936 |
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1937 |
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| The term molecular biology is coined. |
1938 |
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1939 |
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| American Oswald Avery demonstrates that DNA is the "transforming factor" and is the material of genes. |
1940 |
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1941 |
The Danish microbiologist A. Jost first uses the term genetic engineering in a lecture at Lwow, Poland. | ||
| The electron microscope is used to identify and characterize bacteriophage- a virus that infects bacteria. |
1942 |
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1943 |
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| Streptomycin, an effective antibiotic for TB, is isolated by Waksman. |
1944 |
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1945 |
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| Discovery that genetic material from different viruses can be combined to form a new type of virus, an example of genetic recombination. |
1946 |
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1947 |
Transposable elements, or "jumping genes," in corn is discovered by Barbara McClintock, an American scientist. | ||
1948 |
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1949 |
Pauling shows that sickle cell anemia is a "molecular disease" resulting from a mutation in the protein molecule hemoglobin. | ||
| Artificial insemination of livestock using frozen semen is successfully accomplished. |
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1951 |
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1952 |
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1953 |
James Watsons and Francis Crick's manuscript showing the double helical structure of DNA, is published by Nature. This marks the beginning of modern genetics. | ||
| Cell-culturing techniques are developed. |
1954 |
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1955 |
For the first time an enzyme involved in the synthesis of a nucleic acid is isolated. | ||
| -The fermentation process is perfected in Japan. -The enzyme DNA polymerase I is discovered by Kornburg, leading to an understanding of how DNA is replicated. |
1956 |
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1957 |
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| Sickle cell anemia is shown to occur due to a change of a single amino acid. |
1958 |
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1959 |
-The steps in protein biosynthesis are delineated. -Systemic fungicides are developed. | ||
| Messenger RNA is discovered by Alexander Rich. Hybrid DNA-RNA molecules are created by exploiting base pairing. |
1960 |
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1961 |
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1962 |
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1963 |
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| The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines starts the Green Revolution with new strains of rice that can double the yield of previous strains. |
1964 |
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1965 |
Mouse and human cells are successfully fused together by Harris and Watkins. | ||
| The genetic code is cracked, demonstrating that a condon, a sequence of three nucleotide bases, determines each of 20 amino acids. |
1966 |
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1967 |
The first automatic protein sequencer is perfected. | ||
1968 |
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1969 |
For the first time, an enzyme is synthesized in vitro. | ||
| -Specific restriction nucleases are identified, opening the way for gene cloning. -First complete synthesis of a gene. |
1970 |
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1971 |
Discovery of restriction enzymes that cut and splice genetic material. | ||
| -The DNA composition of humans is discovered to be 99 percent similar to that of chimpanzees and gorillas. -Initial work with embryo transfer. |
1972 |
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1973 |
Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer perfect genetic engineering techniques to cut and paste DNA and reproduce the new DNA in bacteria. | ||
| The National Institutes of Health forms a Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee to oversee recombinant genetic research. |
1974 |
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-The Asilomar Conference puts a stop to genetic research for a period of time. -The first monoclonal antibodies are made. | |||
| -Yeast genes are expressed in E. coli bacteria. -DNA sequencing discovered; first working synthetic gene. |
1976 |
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1977 |
Methods for reading DNA sequence using electrophoresis are discovered. | ||
| High-level structure of virus first identified. Recombinant human insulin first produced. |
1978 |
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1979 |
Human growth hormone first synthesized. | ||
| -Cohen and Boyer are awarded the U.S. patent for gene cloning. -The first gene-synthesizing machines are developed. |
1980 |
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1981 |
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| Humulin� is approved for the treatment of diabetes. |
1982 |
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1983 |
-The first artificial chromosome is synthesized. -The first genetic markers for specific inherited diseases are found. | ||
| -The DNA fingerprinting technique is developed. -The first genetically engineered vaccine is developed. -The entire genome of the HIV virus is cloned and sequenced. |
1984 |
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1985 |
-Genetic fingerprinting is used in the court room. -The NIH approves guidelines for performing experiments in gene therapy on humans. | ||
| -The first field tests of genetically engineered plants (tobacco) are conducted. -Albutein� is approved for treatment of hypovolmeic shock. |
1986 |
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1987 |
-First field trials of a genetically altered bacterium. -Activase� is approved for treatment of heart attacks. -Infergen� is approved for treatment of hepatitis C. | ||
| Harvard molecular geneticists are awarded the first U.S. patent for a genetically altered animal, a transgenic mouse. |
1988 |
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1989 |
-First field trial of a recombinant viral crop protectant. -The gene responsible for cystic fibrosis is discovered. | ||
| -The first federally approved gene therapy treatment is performed successfully on a 4-year-old girl suffering from an immune disorder. -The Human Genome Project, an international effort to map all of the genes in the human body, is launched. |
1990 |
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1991 |
Eredase� is approved for the treatment of type 1 Gaucher's disease. | ||
| American and British scientists reveal a technique for testing embryos in vitro for genetic abnormalities like cystic fibrosis and hemophilia. |
1992 |
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1993 |
-Betaseron� is approved as the first treatment for multiple sclerosis in 20 years. -The FDA declares that genetically engineered foods are "not inherently dangerous" and do not require special regulation. | ||
| -The first breast cancer gene is discovered. -The FLAVRSAVRtm tomato is the first genetically engineered whole food approved by the FDA is on the market. |
1994 |
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1995 |
-The first baboon-to-human bone marrow transplant is performed on an AIDS patient. -Gene therapy, immune system modulation and genetically engineered antibodies enter the clinics in the war against cancer. | ||
| The discovery of a gene associated with Parkinson's disease provides an important new avenue of research into the cause and potential treatment of the disease. |
1996 |
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1997 |
-Scottish scientists, using DNA from adult sheep cells, report cloning a sheep named Dolly. -A group of Oregon researchers claims to have cloned two Rhesus monkeys. | ||
| -University of Hawaii scientists clone three generations of mice from nuclei of adult ovarian cumulus cells. -The first complete animal genome for the elegans worm is sequenced. -Using cells taken from a single adult cow scientists at Japan's Kinki University clone eight identical calves. |
1998 |
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1999 |
-First conviction using genetic fingerprinting in the U.K. -Genetically engineered rabies vaccine tested in raccoons. | ||
| World's first litter of cloned piglets at PPL Therapeutics in Blacksburg, VA. |
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