Major Innovations in the History of Biotechnology By 14abkinner Jan 1, 1600 coined the term cells, invention of the microscope Jan 1, 1850 discovery of the simple laws of inheritance of traits that allowed one to predict the outcome of crosses with certain traits Jan 1, 1857 Louis Pasteur described the scientific basis for fermentation and propsed the Germ Theory Jan 1, 1869 Johann Miescher found nucleic acid in white bloods cells Jan 1, 1910 discorvery that genes were on chromosomes Jan 1, 1928 Alexander Flemming proved that genetic material can be moved from one strain of becteria to another Jan 1, 1935 DNA contains the same amount of units of adernine and thymine, cytosine and guanine Jan 1, 1944 proved that DNA was the hereditary material Jan 1, 1953 the blender experiment proved that viruses replicated using DNA Jan 1, 1953 x-ray crystallography showed that DNA was a duble helix Jan 1, 1953 Hayes discovered plasmid DNA Jan 1, 1961 Walter Gilbert discovered the mechanism of gene expression through mRNA Jan 1, 1962 Arber, Nathans, and Smith discovered bacterial restriction enzymes that cut DNA. Jan 1, 1966 64 codons that code for the 20 amino acids making up proteins were discovered Jan 1, 1967 DNA plasmids were isolated and purified by Vinograd. Jan 1, 1970 Madel and Higa were responsible for the first transformation of bacterium Escherichia coli. Jan 1, 1970 Dolly the sheep was cloned. Jan 1, 1970 Sanger and Cillbert found a way to sequence DNA. Jan 1, 1972 Cloning experiments were conducted by Boyer and Cohen. Jan 1, 1973 Genetech, the world's first genetic engineering company, was founded. Jan 1, 1976 140 scientist met to draw up guidlines for work with recombinant DNA in microrganisms. Jan 1, 1978 Boyer inserted a synthetic gene in E. coli. Jan 1, 1978 Discovery of personal identification known as DNA fingerprint. Jan 1, 1978 First human baby from vitro infertalization was born. Jan 1, 1980 U.S. supreme court ruled that genetically altered life forms can be patented. Jan 1, 1980 Ohio University scientist make the first transgenic animals. Jan 1, 1982 Eli Lilly Compaany placed a human insuliln gene inside bacteria. Jan 1, 1983 Plants were transformed with Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Jan 1, 1983 Invention of the polymerase chain reaction to amplify DNA in the lab. Jan 1, 1985 Jeffries applied RFLP in DNA to the study of criminal cases. Jan 1, 1985 Automated flourescnece sequencer was invented. Jan 1, 1985 Genes were moved in organisms through the use of the gene gun. Jan 1, 1994 NIH revised safety guidelines for recombinant DNA to include plants grown in greenhouses and animals raised in barns. Jan 1, 1996 Discovery on RNA interference in the worm C. elegans. Jan 1, 1997 Invention of yeast artificial chromosomes. Jan 1, 1997 DNA microarray technology was developed. Jan 1, 1999 Invention of automated DNA sequencer. Jan 1, 2002 Breaker coined the term ridoswitch for part of an mRNA molecule. Jan 1, 2003 Announcement was made of the completion of the Human Genome Project.