History of Biotechnology

By Ray William
  • China create first antibiotic (500 B.C)
    100

    China create first antibiotic (500 B.C)

    The Chinese created the first antibiotic using moldy soybean curds which they used to treat boils. Scientists now believe that the fungus that produces penicillin may have been the mold present in the soybean curds.
  • First Insecticide
    100

    First Insecticide

    The first insecticide was poduced in China from powdered chrysanthemums. It is now knownt that Pyrethrum was the compound which was poisonous to the insects.
  • Cheese thought to be made around 8000 BC
    100

    Cheese thought to be made around 8000 BC

    Cheese was discovered as people put milk in the stomach of cows for storage. The enzyme present in the cow's stomach, rennin, made the milk curd, and thus cheese was made.
  • Period: 100 to

    Ancient Biotech

  • Vaccination

    Vaccination

    English surgeon Edward Jenner pioneers vaccination, inoculating a child with a viral smallpox vaccine.
  • Period: to

    Classical Biotech

  • First experimental corn hybrid is produced

  • Breeders crossbreed cotton

    Scientists were able to evelop hundreds of varieties with better traits by selectively crossbreeding varieties of cotton.

  • Peyton Rous discovers the first cancer-causing virus.

  • Penicillin Discovered

    Penicillin Discovered

  • Hybrid Corn is commercialized

  • Penicillin is mass-produced in microbes for the first time

  • Period: to

    Modern Biotech

  • Artificial insemination of livetock is accomplished with frozen semen

  • First Synthetic Antiobiotic Produced

  • DNA is made in a test tube for the first time

  • Recombinant human insulin is produced for the first time

  • Human growth hormone is synthesized for the first time.

  • Smallpox is globally eradicated following 20 year mass vaccination effort

  • Smallpox is eradicated.

    The Smallpox Eradication Program (SEP) started to eliminate the disease by first taking care of it in some of the poorer countries. The cure to smallpox was instead of being in vaccinations, was administered through an injection from a needled for a faster way to spread the cure in the 44 countries that, at that time, had the disease.

  • Scientists at Ohio University produce the first transgenic animals

    Transferring genes from other animals into mice.

  • First recombinant DNA vaccine for livestock is developed.

  • Human insulin produced in bacteria is approved by FDA

  • Genetic markers are found for kidney disease and cystic fibrosis

  • First recombinant vaccine for humans is approved (Hep B)

  • Interferon becomes the first anticancer drug produced through biotech

  • The first pest-resistant corn is produced

    Bt corn

  • The first successful gene therapy is performed

  • FDA approves bovine somatotropin for increased milk production

  • FDA approves Betaseron

    The first of several biotech prodcuts that have had a major impact on multiple sclerosis treatment.

  • The first breast cancer gene is discovered

  • Americas are polio-free

  • Gene therapy produced antibodies

  • A gene associated with Parkinsons is discovered

  • First GM crop is commercialized

  • First animal cloned

    First animal cloned

    Dolly was a sheep which was the first animal to be cloned. Dolly was cloned using an adult somatic cell, and the process was made possible by nuclear transfer.

  • FDA approves Herceptin

    A pharmaceutical breast cancer drug for patients whose cancer overexpresses the HER2 receptor.

  • A diagnostic test allows ID of mad cow disease

  • Keny test its first biotech crop

  • First gene-targeted drug to receive FDA approval.

    Gleevac is a gene targeted drug for patients with chronic myeloid leukemea.

  • EPA approves the first transgenic rootworm-resistant crop

  • An endangered species is cloned for the first time

  • World's first regulatory approval of gene therapy product

    delivers the p53 gene as a therapy for squamous cell head and neck cancer.

  • FDA approves the first antiangiogenic drug for cancer

    Avastin

  • UN Food and Agriculture endorses biotech crops

  • Emergency Policy Act is passed

    authroizing numerous incentives for bioethanol development.

  • FDA approves the first vaccine for HPV

  • FDA approves the H5N1 vaccine

  • Global biotech crop averages 330 million acres

  • FDA approves the first genetically engineered animal for production of a recombinant form of human antithrombin.