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Watson and Crick figured out that the nitrogen bases had to be pieced together, one long to one short, in order for the shape of DNA to allow it to function.
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Sydney Brenner, Francis Crick, Francois Jacob, and Jacques Monod researched and discovered mRNA and its functions in the protien-building process.
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Marshall Nirenberg discovered the first triplet and helped to decipher the entire genetic code.
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Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger made it possible to read the nucleotide sequence for entire genes.
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Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms is used by David Bostein in mapping genes to indicate genetic differences among individuals.
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Kary Mullis helps develop polymerase chain reaction to rapidly multiply fragments of DNA.
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Leroy Hood developed the automated sequencer which sped up the sequencing process.
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The Human Genome Project was launched. This would give the power to decode an entire complement of human DNA.
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The first completely sequenced genome of a free-living organism was done on the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae Rd.
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Hundereds of scientists sequenced the genome for baker's yeast.
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A microscopic worm was the first multicellular organism to have its genome sequenced.
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Celera Genomics announced the first complete assembly of the human genome. Using whole genome shotgun sequencing, Celera began sequencing in September 1999 and finished in December. The Human Genome Project reported it had finished a "working draft" of the genome, stating that the project had fully sequenced 85 percent of the genome.