Timeline: Synthetic Biology

Dec 12, 1993

An Evolutionary Approach toSynthetic Biology

MIT Press releases the report "An Evolutionary Approach to
Synthetic Biology: Zen and the Art of Creating Life" providing the future outlook of synthetic biology and the first recommendation of suicide gene technology as a biosecurity mechanism http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/artl.1993.1.1_2.179

Dec 1, 1995

First Genome Sequened

Venter published the first genome of a living organism

Dec 1, 1996

Novartis

Merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz to form Novartis

Jun 26, 2000

Human Genome

Human Genome Sequenced

Nov 1, 2002

Genomes for Life

U.S. Dept of Energy (DOE) invests $12 million in Venter's research

Dec 1, 2005

Founding of SGI

Jan 1, 2007

Synbiosafe created

European research project to examine the ethical aspects of synthetic biology

Jan 16, 2007

Extreme Genetic Engineering

ETC's document “Extreme Genetic Engineering”

Jul 14, 2009

Exxon and SGI sign multi-year agreement

ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics Inc. Sign Multi-year Agreement to Develop Biofuels

May 20, 2010

Synthetic Cell

Announced the creation of a synthetic cell

Jul 14, 2010

Exxon Mobile announces $600 Million for SGI research

Exxon Mobil and SGI announce the opening of a greenhouse facility and the plan for Exxon to invest over $600 million in SGI

Aug 1, 2010

Commission on Bioethics

Presidential Commission on Bioethics meets and makes recomendations

Dec 16, 2010

Presidential Commission

58 environmental interest groups write a complaint letter to Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues

Dec 16, 2010

Venter's Press Release

Venter releases reaction to Presidential Commission's report, stating that the report is "wise, warranted and restrained which will help to ensure that this young field of research will flourish in a positive manner"