History of biotechnology
18,000 BC
Middle East people domesticate and breed deer, antelope, and sheep
5000 BC
Chinese domesticate and breed pigs
4000 BC
Egyptians master art of wine-making
3000 BC
South America peoples select and breed potatoes as staple crop
2000 BC
Egyptians and Sumerians learn brewing and cheese-making
300 BC
Greeks develop grafting techniques for clonal plant increase
1276
The first whiskey distillery established in Ireland
1500s
Fermentation utilized, leading to the development of sauerkraut and yogurt
1750
Animals used for food and to do work. Plants domesticated, selectively bred for desired characteristicsMicroorganisms used to make cheese, beverages, and bread by fermentation
1797
Living microorganisms used to vaccinate people against diseases
1852
In Paris, an international "Corn Show" features varieties from Syria, Portugal, Hungary, and Algeria
1859
Hypothesis that animal and plant populations adapt over time to best fit the environment - Charles Darwin's book "Origin of the Species" published
1864
Louis Pasteur proved existence of microorganisms. Showed that all living things are produced by other living things
1865
Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, presented his laws of heredity
1869
Johann Meischer isolated DNA from the nuclei of white blood cells
1880
Steam engine to drive combine harvesters
1890
Ammonia synthesis
1892
Self-propelled tractor
1893
Koch, Pasteur - Fermentation process patented Lister Institutes - Diphtheria antitoxin isolated
1902
Walter Sutton coined the term "gene"; proposed that chromosomes carry genes (factors which Mendel said could be passed from generation to generation)
1904
Artificial silks developed
1910
Thomas H. Morgan proved that genes are carried on chromosomes; "biotechnology" term coined
1918
Germans use acetone produced by plants to make bombs; yeast grown in large quantities for animals and glycerol; made activated sludge for sewage treatment process
1920
Boom of rayon industry
1927
Herman Mueller increased mutation rate in fruit flies by exposing them to x-rays
1928
Frederick Griffiths noticed that a rough kind of bacterium changed to a smooth type when unknown "transforming principle" from smooth type was present
1928
Alexander Fleming discovered antibiotic properties of certain molds
1920-1930
Plant hybridization
1938
Proteins and DNA studied by x-ray crystallography Term 'molecular biology" coined
1940
Oswald Avery isolates pure DNA
1943-1953
Linus Pauling described sickle cell anemia, calling it a molecular disease; cortisone made in large amounts; DNA identified as the genetic material
1944
Oswald Avery performed transformation experiment with Griffith's bacterium
1945
Max Delbruck organized course to study a type of bacterial virus that consists of a protein coat containing DNA
Mid-1940's
Penicillin produced; transition from animal power to mechanical power on farms
1950
Erwin Chargaff determined that there is always a ratio of 1:1 adenine to thymine in DNA of many different organisms; artificial insemination of livestock
1953
James Watson and Francis Crick determined the double helix structure of DNA
1956
Dangr sequenced insulin (protein) from pork
1958
Coenberg discovered DNA polymerase
1960
Isolation of m-RNA
1965
Classification of the plasmids
1966
Marshall Nirenberg determined that a sequence of three nucleotide; Severo Ochoa found out that bases determine each of 20 amino acids
1970
Norman Borlaug becomes first plant breeder to win Nobel Prize for his work on Green Revolution wheat varieties
1973
Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer discover recombinant DNA technology, considered to be the birth of modern biotechnology
1978
Genetic engineering techniques used to produce human insulin in E. coli; first biotech company on NY stock exchange; first successful transplantation of mammalian gene; discoverers of restriction enzymes receive Nobel Prize in medicine
1979
Genentech, Inc. produce human growth hormone and two kinds of interferon DNA from malignant cells transformed a strain of cultured mouse cells - new tool for analyzing cancer genes
1980
U.S. Supreme Court decided that man-made microbes could be patented
1981
Chinese scientists become first to clone a fish - a golden carp
1981
Canada's first biotechnology company, Allelix, formed
1982
The first genetically engineered product, human insulin, approved for sale in USA
1983
Genetech, Inc. licensed Eli Lily to make insulin; first transfer of foreign gene in plants
1985
Plants can be patented
1986
First field trials of DNA recombinant plants resistant to insects, viruses, bacteria
1988
First living mammal patented
1989
Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska cleaned up with the help of bacteria
1990
The first food products modified by biotechnology, an enzyme for cheese production and a yeast for baking, approved in USA and UK, respectively
1992
FDA decides GM foods will be regulated as conventional foods
1993
The first animal hormone produced with biotechnology, Bovine somatotropin, approved for use in USA
1994
FlavrSavr Tomato becomes the first GM food approved for sale
1995
Three human biopharmaceutical products receive approval for AIDS and cancer; herbicide resistant canola, corn
1996
Commercial production of biotechnology crops begins - corn, potato, and canola
1997
Birth of Dolly the sheep announced as the first successful mammal cloned from an adult cell
2000
Cotton, soybeans, sugar beet as well as insect or virus-resistant corn, cotton, papaya, potato, squash, tomato approved in the USA
2001
" Golden rice," which may help prevent millions of cases of blindness and death caused by Vitamin A and iron deficiencies, undergoes continued testing.