|
1977
|
|
Walter Gilbert and Allan Maxam at Harvard University devised a method
for sequencing DNA using chemicals rather than enzymes. |
| 1979 |
|
John Baxter reported cloning the gene for human growth hormone. |
| 1984 |
|
Alec Jeffreys
introduces technique for DNA fingerprinting to identify individuals.
|
| 1985 |
|
Genetically
engineered plants resistant to insects, viruses, and bacteria were
field tested for the first time. |
| 1989 |
|
Creation
of the National Center for Human Genome Research, headed by James
Watson, which will oversee the $3 billion U.S. effort to map and sequence
all human DNA by 2005. |
| 1990 |
|
The first gene therapy takes place,
on a four-year-old girl with an immune-system disorder called ADA
deficiency. The therapy appeared to work, but set off a fury of
discussion of ethics both in academia and in the media.
The Human Genome Project, the international
effort to map all of the genes in the human body, was launched.
Estimated cost: $13 billion.
Formal launch of the international
Human Genome Project.
|
| 1995 |
|
The first full gene sequence of
a living organism other than a virus is completed for the bacterium
Hemophilus influenzae.
 A
single gene has been identified that appears to control the growth
and development of eyes throughout the animal kingdom.
|
| 1996 |
|
 Analysis
of a small meteorite that landed on Antarctica some 15 million years
ago has sparked what may be the greatest scientific discovery ever,
possible evidence of life on Mars. |
| 1997 |
|
Artificial human chromosomes created
for the first time.
Using a bit of DNA and some commonplace
biological laboratory techniques, researchers have now engineered
the first DNA computer "hardware" ever: logic made of DNA.
|
| 1998 |
|
A rough draft of the human genome
map is produced, showing the locations of more than 30,000 genes.
|
| 1999 |
|
A new technique
based on unique individual antibody profiles offers an alternative
to current DNA fingerprinting methods.The method is simple to use
and has attracted considerable attention from law enforcement. |
