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Ban on genetic discrimination in workspace
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26 1990. Its purpose is to provide equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. In 1995, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a modification on the definition of disability. -
Physical map of human genome completed(James Watson)
In 1995 a physical map that uses sequence tagged Sites as markers to order large segments of DNA. -
International strategy meeting on Human Genome Sequencing
In the 1996 the first international strategy meeting on Human genome sequencing drew scientists from countries in Europe, North America, and Asia funding human genome sequencing projects. -
Human Gene Map Created
Scientists created a map showing the locations of ESTs representing fragments of more than 16,000 genes from throughout the genome. -
Human DNA sequence Begins
In 1996 the National Human Genome Research Institute funded pilot projects to find efficient strategies for completely sequencing the human genome. -
Recommendations on Genetic Testing
Task Force on Genetic Testing was created by the NIH-DOE Working Group on Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Human Genome Research to review genetic testing in the United States and make recommendations to ensure the development of safe and effective genetic tests -
HGP Map included 30,000 Human Genes
In October 1998, HGP researchers released a gene map that included 30,000 human genes estimated to represent approximately one-third of the total human genes. -
Genome of roundworm C. Elegant sequenced
In December 1998, the first genome sequence of a multicellular organism, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, was completed. Caenothabditis elegans has already proven helpful in the study of development, neurobiology, and aging. Its complete genomic sequence was expected to provide insights on how the genomes of complex organisms function. -
Full-Scale Human Genome Sequencing
In March 1999 HGP participants advanced their goal of obtaining draft sequence covering 90 percent of the human genome to 2000, a year and a half before projected previously. -
Chromosome 22
In December 1999, the HGP completed the first finished, full-length sequence of a human chromosome, chromosome 22. The sequence of chromosome 22 gave scientists their first ever view of the organization of an entire chromosome. -
Free Access to Genomic Information
In March 2000, President Clinton and U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair stated that raw, fundamental data about human genome sequence and its variations should be freely available. -
First Draft of the Human Genome Sequence Released
The Human Genome Project international consortium published a first draft and initial analysis of the human genome sequence. The draft sequence covered more than 90 percent of the human genome. The sequence data was immediately and freely released to the world. Researchers can access the data through public databases on the Internet and can use the information without restriction. -
Researchers Find Genetic Variation Associated with Prostate Cancer
Researchers identified a gene on chromosome 1 associated with a hereditary form of prostate cancer. The newly identified gene on chromosome 1 is called ribonuclease L or RNASEL. The researchers cautioned that mutations in this gene do not account for most cases of hereditary prostate cancer and also do not account for the majority of cases that arise through spontaneous mutations. -
Human Genome Project Completed
The International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium announced the successful completion of the Human Genome Project more than two years ahead of schedule and under budget. The primary goal of the project was to produce a reference sequence of the human genome. In 2001 the international consortium published a draft sequence. -
Fiftieth Anniversary of Watson and Crick's Description of the Double Helix
In April 1953, a paper appeared in the journal Nature that proposed a double helix structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid DNA. Determining the molecular structure of the gene was one of the most significant achievements in all of science. The structure was deceptively simple and immediately answered some important questions about genes and how they work. -
The First National DNA day celebrated
The United States Congress passed a resolution setting aside April 25th as National DNA Day. The date was chosen to mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of the landmark paper by Francis Crick and James Watson describing the double helix model of DNA and the recent official completion of the Human Genome Project. -
Surgeon general stresses Importantance of family history
I encourage all families to take time on this day - or at any other family gathering throughout the year - to collect important health history information that can benefit all family members," Dr. Carmona said. "Even with all the high-tech tests, medicines and procedures available in today's modern health-care setting, family health history remains the cornerstone of our efforts to prevent disease and promote personal health.