Significant Scientific Milestones in Biotechnology
| 1663: |
|
Cells first described by Hooke. |
| 1830: |
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Proteins are discovered. |
| 1855: |
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Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium discovered (later becomes a major tool for biotechnology). |
| 1940: |
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Avery demonstrates that DNA is the "transforming factor" and material of genes. |
| 1953: |
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Double helix structure of DNA is first described by Watson and Crick. |
| 1973: |
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Cohen and Boyer develop genetic engineering techniques to "cut and paste" DNA and reproduce the new DNA in bacteria. |
| 1976: |
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The first working synthetic gene is developed. |
| 1977: |
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Genentech scientists and their collaborators produce the first human protein (somatostatin) in a bacterium (E. coli). |
| 1978: |
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Genentech scientists and their collaborators produce recombinant human insulin. |
| 1979: |
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Genentech scientists produce recombinant human growth hormone. |
| 1982: |
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Eli Lilly and Company markets Genentech-licensed recombinant human insulin - the first such product on the market. |
| 1983: |
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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique conceived (will become a major means of copying genes and gene fragments). |
| 1985: |
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Genentech receives FDA approval for Protropin for growth hormone deficiency in children - the first biotech drug manufactured and marketed by a biotech company. |
| 1990: |
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Human Genome Project (HGP), an international effort to map all the genes in the human body, is launched. |
| 1994: |
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BRCA1, the first breast cancer susceptibility gene, is discovered. |
| 1995: |
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The first full gene sequence of a living organism other than a virus, is completed for the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. |
| 2000: |
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First draft of human genome sequence completed by the HGP and Celera Genomics. |