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1990 - first federally approved gene therapy performed
For the first time ever, Gene Therapy was used on a four year old girl to help combat her severe and rare auto immune disease. A quick blood infusion treats the patient by giving them copies of critical genes they lack. She was infused with about one billion white blood cells that had been outfitted through recombinant DNA. -
1992 - Military Genetic Dog Tag Program begins
The week of Monday June 6th, 1992, the US military began collecting blood and tissue samples from all new recruits as part of their "Genetic Dog Tag" program. Metal dog tags at this time were becoming less reliable because modern warfare sometimes leaves nothing to identify someone with. This kicked off the process of pathologists being able to identify the smallest tissue specimens by cross-matching to genetic samples stored on file. -
1993 - FDA approves first treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclearosis
The FDA approves a new protein said to treat multiple sclerosis. -
1994 - Breast Cancer Gene BRCA1 is discovered
in 1994, Dr. Mark H. Skolnick and Dr. Mary Claire King were the first to discover the breast cancer susceptibility gene. They found the gene in September and published their findings in the October 7th addition of journal Science. -
1995 - First vaccine for hepatitis A is developed
Scientists at the Institute for Genomic Research completed the first full gene sequence of a living organism (other than a virus) for the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae, otherwise known as hepatitis A. -
1995 - Genetic defect that appears to cause deafness is identified
A European research team identifies a genetic defect that appears to be the most common cause of deafness. -
1995 - First Baboon to Human Bone Marrow Transplant.
San Franciso - The first baboon to human bone marrow transplant was performed on Jeff Getty, a 38 year old man with AIDS. The procedure is similar to a blood transfusion; fluid, containing the baboon cell, dripped into his vein from a plastic bag that hung by his bed. The hope is to "augment" Mr. Getty's marrow, not replace it. Since his cells are still infected with H.I.V., it won't cure AIDS but creates a double immune system stopping AIDS from infecting other parts of his system. -
1996 - Instant inexpensive E. Coli diagnostic
Raymond Stevens, a chemist at The Berkley Lab and his team created a diagnostic test that allows for the instantaneous detection of the toxic strain of E. Coli Bacteria, 0157:H7. This particular strain is responsible for deaths in the US from fruit drinks and fast-food burgers as well as deaths in Japan and Scotland. Before Stevens created this test it took at least 24 hours to culture sample; now food companies have the resources to test their products on the spot for the presence of E. Coli. -
1997 - Dolly the Sheep
British researchers, led by 52 year old Dr. Ian Wilmut, cloned the first ever adult mammal. To do this he replaced the eggs DNA with the Adult Sheeps DNA and placed the egg in an ewe. When Dolly was born she seemed normal but her DNA showed she was an exact copy of the adult sheep from which she was made. -
1997 - The first human artificial chromosome is created
Through a combination of natural and synthetic DNA the first human artificial chromosome is created. The combination of natural and synthetic DNA is used to create a genetic cassette that can potentially be customized and used in gene therapy. -
1998- Human Embryonic Stem Cells Produced in Lab
A University of Washington team led by James Thomson and Jeffrey Jones reported that their team had successfully grown human embryonic stem cells in a Lab. This was a big step because it held the potential that scientists one day could grow new red blood cells for cancer patients, hearts for transplants, livers for hepatitis, and nerve cells for spinal injuries. -
1999 - The complete genetic code of the human chromosome is deciphered
Scientists discover that each human gene is made up of a series of chemical building blocks represented by letters A (adenine), T (thymine), G (guanine) and C (cytosine). The number and order of these letters determine who we are.
