| Description |
Year |
| Austrian botanist and monk Gregor Mendel proposes basics laws of heredity
based upon his cross-breeding experiments with the pea
plant. Although a local journal published his theories, they are ignored
for over thirty years. |
1866
|
| German embroyolgist Walther Fleming was examining salamander larve
under a microscope when he noticed
tiny threads within the cell's nucleus
that appeared to be dividing. These tiny treads are later identified as
chromosomes. |
1882
|
| The term eugenics is coined by Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles
Darwin. Galton is an early advocate of improving the human condition via
selective breeding. |
1883
|
| Twenty-eight years after Fleming obsevred chromosome
within a cell's nucleus, biologist
Thomas Hunt Mrogan's experiments with fruit flies reveal that some genetically
determined traits are sex linked. In addition his work verifies that the
genes
reside on chromosomes. |
1910
|
| U.S.biologist Hermann Muller discovers that x-rays can cause genetic
mutations in fruit flies. |
1926
|
| Oswald Avery, Colin Macleod and Maclyn McCarty demonstrate that DNA,
not protein, is the hereditary material
in most living organisms. This was accomplished based upon their work with
the pneumococcus. |
1944
|
| UK physcian Douglas Bevis demonstrates how amniocentesis can be used
to test fetuses for the their RH factor compatability. The prenatal test
will later be used extensively to screen for a number of genetic disorders. |
1950
|
| James D. Watson and Francis Crick publish their paper on the
very nature and structure of DNA.
They concluded the paper with the medical understatement of the century,
"this structure (DNA) has novel features, which are of considerable biological
interest." |
1953
|
| UC-Berkeley biochemist Heinz Fraenkel-Conrat takes apart and then reassembles
the tobacco virus, demonstrating "Self Assembly." |
10/1956
|
| Using one strand of natural viral DNA to assemble 5,300 nucleotide
building blocks, Nobel Laureate Arthur Kornberg's Stanford group synthesizes
infectious viral DNA. |
12/67
|
Science reports that Stanford Geneticist Leonard Herzenberg
develops the flourescence-activated
cell sorter, which can identify
up to 5,000 closely related animal cells. |
11/69
|
| UC-Berkeley virologists Peter Duesberg and Peter Vogt discover the
first oncogene in a virus. Dubbed SRC, the gene
has been implicated in many human cancers. |
12/70
|
| Stanford immunologist Hugh McDevitt reports in Science genes
which control immune responses to foreign substances, suggesting predictable
susceptibility to some diseases. |
1/72
|
| UC-Berkeley biochemist Bruce Ames develops a test
to identify chemicals that damage DNA,
The Ames Test becomes a widely used method to identify carcinogenic substances. |
3/73
|
|
|
| The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS) publishes
a paper by Stanford Geneticists Stanley Cohen and Annie Chang, and UCSF
Biochemists Herbert Boyer and Robert Helling describing the first construction
of a recombinant DNAmolecule containing
the genetic material from two different species. |
11/73
|
| PNAS publishes a paper by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer in
which they demonstrate the expression of a foreign gene
implanted in bacteria by recombinant DNA
methods. Cohen and Boyer show that DNA can be cut with a restriction enzyme,
joined together with other enzymes, and reproduced by inserting the DNA
into Escherichia coli |
5/74
|
| Science publishes a letter by Stanford Biochemist
Paul Berg and others calling for National Institute of Health Guidelines
for DNA Splicing. The letter requests
that scientists desist from certain types of recombinant
DNA experiments until questions of safety can be addressed |
7/74 |
| Researchers and academicians convene a three-day meeting at Asilomar
to debate scientific concerns about gene
splicing. A year later the NIH issues guidelines. |
2/75
|
| UCSF virologists J. Michael Bishop and Harold Varmus show that oncogenes
appear on animal chromosomes and alternatives
in their structure or expression result in cancer. |
3/76
|
| UCSF biochemists Bill Rutter and Howard Goodman report in Science
the
isolation of the gene for rat insulin. |
6/77
|
| Genentech Inc. reports expression of the first human protein produced
in a microorganism, somatostatin, a human growth hormone-releasing inhibitory
factor. |
12/77
|
| After two years of discussion between Stanford and the NIH,
the federal government affirms that universities can hold patents
and license recombinant DNA inventions. |
3/78
|
| Genentech Inc. and The City of Hope National Medical Center announce
the successful laboratory production of human
insulin using recombinant
DNA
technology. |
9/78
|
| At the American Federation for Clinical Research, UCSF endocrinologist
John Baxter and his colleagues report the cloning
of
the gene for human growth hormone. |
5/79
|
| The U.S. Supreme Court holds that life forms can be patented when it
allows General Electric's Ananda Chakrabarty a patent covering genetic
manipulation techniques. |
6/80
|
| Genentech Inc. conducts the first biotech initial
public offering. The stock price climbs from $35 to $89, settling at
$71.25 at the end of the first day. |
10/80
|
| Stanford receives a process patent to make mirror-image
molecules
known as chimeras, an important step in developing
new pharmaceuticals. |
12/80 |
| Cetus completes what was at the time the largest
IPO (Initial Public Offering) in U.S. History. Net proceeds top $107
million. |
3/81
|
| Chiron Corp. Chairman Bill Rutter and Research Director Pablo Valenzuela
report in Nature a yeast expression
system to produce the hepatitis B surface antigen. |
6/81
|
| Alza Corp. receives FDA approval to market the first product (for motion
sickness) based on a transdermal or skin patch, delivery system. |
8/81
|
| Applied Biosystems Inc. introduces the first commercial gas phase protein
sequencer, reducing the amount of protein sample needed to sequence a protein. |
3/82
|
| UCSF neurologist Stanley Prusiner describes a new pathogen, dubbed
"prion," which contains little or no genetic material and contributes to
degenerative brain diseases. |
4/82
|
| UC-Berkeley Plant pathologist Steve Lindow requests government permission
to test genetically engineered bacteria to control frost damage to potatoes
or strawberries. |
9/82
|
| Eli Lilly & Company receives FDA approval to sell Genentech
Inc.'s human insulin, the first product of recombinant DNA technology to
reach the market. |
10/82
|
| UCSF pediatric immunologist Arthur Ammann warns the Centers for Disease
Control that tainted blood can transmit AIDS. Nine months later, the blood
bank at Stanford School of Medicine becomes the first to screen blood to
prevent AIDS transmission. |
12/82
|
| Syntex Corp.'s diagnostics and drug monitoring subsidiary, Syva Co.,
receives FDA approval for a monoclonal antibody based diagnostic test for
Chlamydia
Trachomatis. |
1/83
|
| Applied Biosystems Inc. begins supplying DNA
synthesis instruments using phosphoramadite
chemistry,
to manufacture synthetic DNA used in probes, primers
and gene constructs. |
3/83 |
| SRI International files for a patent for
an E. coli expression vector. Three months later SRI unveils a five
year biotechnology business
plan. |
8/83
|
| Jay Levy's UCSF lab isolates the AIDS virus at almost the same time
it is isolated at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and at the NIH. |
11/83
|
| Cal Bio scientists describe in Nature
the
isolation of a gene for anaritide
acetate, which helps regulate blood pressure and control salt and water
excretion. |
6/84
|
| Stanford receives a patent for prokaryote DNA |
8/84
|
| Chiron Corp. announces the first cloning
and sequencing of the entire
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genome. |
9/84
|
| Genentech's Axel Ullrich reports the sequencing of the human insulin
receptor in Nature . Bill Rutter's
UCSF team describes the sequencing in Cell
two
months later. |
2/85
|
| Cal Bio clones the gene that encodes human lung surfactant protein,
a major step toward reducing a premature birth complication. |
2/85
|
| Genentech Inc. receives FDA approval to market human growth hormone.
The first recombinant pharmaceutical product to be sold by a biotechnology
company. |
10/85
|
| Science reports Cetus Corp.'s GeneAmptm polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) technology, which
allows the generation of billions of targeted gene sequence
copies in only hours. |
12/85
|
| Disclosure of Advanced Genetic Sciences Inc. "Roof-Top"
experiments with ice-minus bacteria leads to heightened EPA
regulation of open-air trials of engineered organisms. |
2/86 |
| Molecular Devices receives a patent covering a method employing light-generated
electrical signals for detecting chemical reactions on the surface of semiconductor
chips. |
5/86
|
| The FDA grants Chiron Corp. a license for the first recombinant
vaccine, to battle the hepatitis B virus. |
7/86
|
| Chiron Corp. and Ortho Diagnostics Systems Inc. reach agreement to
supply AIDS and hepatitis screening and diagnostic
tests to blood banks worldwide. |
11/86
|
| Science publishes a paper
by UC-Berkeley chemist Peter Schultz describing how to combine antibodies
and enzymes creating "abzymes" to create pharmaceuticals. |
12/86
|
| Calgene Inc. receives a patent for
the tomato polygalacturonase DNA
sequence and its use to produce an antisense RNA sequence, to produce
extended shelf life fruit. |
1/87
|
| Advanced Genetic Sciences Inc. conducts the first field test of a recombinant
organism, Pseudomonas Syringae, a frost inhibitor, on a Contra Costa
County strawberry patch. |
4/87
|
| The NIH (National Institute of Health) awards IntelliGenetics Inc.
a $17.2 million over five years to administer GenBank(R),
the national computerized data bank of nucleic
acid sequences. |
10/87
|
| Genentech Inc. receives FDA approval
to market Activase(R)
(genetically
engineered tissue plasminogen activator) to treat heart attacks. |
11/87
|
| The "Harvard Mouse," created by molecular geneticists Philip Leder
and Timothy Stewart, now at Genentech Inc., becomes the first mammal patented
in the U.S. |
4/88
|
| SyStemix Inc. receives a license on a patent
application for the SCID -hu mouse, an immune deficient mouse with a reconstituted
human immune system. |
6/88 |
| Genencor International receives a patent for a process to make bleach-resistant
protease enzymes to use in detergents. |
7/88
|
| The first International Biotechnology
Expo & Scientific Conference opens in Oakland, CA. IBEX is now the
largest conference to focus on the biotech
industry. |
10/88
|
| Hoffman-La Roche Inc. and Cetus Corp. reach a licensing
agreement for two anti-cancer drugs, interleukin-2 and Polyethylene
Glycol modified IL-2. The move leads the way for further cross-licensing
between companies with parallel patents. |
12/88
|
| XOMA Corp. files for FDA
approval to market the first immunoconjugate, CD5 Plus, to treat acute
graft-vs.host disease, a bone marrow transplant complication. |
12/88
|
| XOMA Corp. files for FDA approval to
market
E5, a monoclonal antibody-based
therapeutic
drug, to treat gram-negative sepsis. |
3/89
|
| Stanford University opens the $100 million Beckman Center to link fundamental
molecular
biology
and clinical
medicine. Nobel Laureate
Paul Berg is named director. |
5/89
|
| Calgene Inc. conducts its first field tests of antisense tomatoes,
to test reduced fruit rotting. This first antisense
food product awaits FDAmarketing
approval. |
5/89
|
| Syntex Laboratories introduces an anti-viral agent to slow the spread
of life-or-sight-threatening cytomegalovirus infections in immuno-compromised
patients. |
7/89
|
| Plant Gene Expression Center
molecular biologist Athanasios Theologis reports in PNAS (Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences USA)
the
cloning
of a gene necessary to synthesize ethylene,
the ripening hormone and gas. |
9/89
|
| Cutter Biological files for a new
drug application for a recombinant
Factor VIII biological, the blood-clotting protein missing in people with
hemophilia. |
9/89
|
The first daily, on-line biotechnology
business
newspaper,
BioWorld
begins publishing in San Mateo, California. The following April, a
daily fax version is introduced. |
10/89 |
| Arris Pharmaceutical Corp.'s Monty Krieger describes in Nature
the
cloning
of a gene that could lead to an atherosclerosis
therapeutic
for
heart disease. |
2/90
|
| Science reports that
scientists at Genlabs Technologies Inc. and the Centers
for Disease Control cloned
a portion of the hepatitis E virus. |
3/90
|
| Protein Design Labs Inc. reports in Cancer Research that its
humanized, anti-IL-2 receptor antibody mediates antibody-dependent
cellular
toxicity against target T cells. |
3/90
|
| UCSF and Stanford issue their 100th recombinant DNA
patent license. By the end of fiscal 1991, both campuses had earned $40
million from the patents. |
3/90
|
| Calgene Inc. announces the first successful field trial of genetically
engineered cotton plants for use with the herbicide
bromoxynil. |
3/90
|
| The FDA licenses Chiron's
hepatitis C antibody test, removing a major
threat to the nation's blood supply and the screening of donated whole
blood. |
5/90
|
| An article in Science by
researchers at Athena Neurosciences Inc. reports on events leading to the
formation of the beta amyloid plaque found in the brains of Alzheimer's
patients. |
6/90
|
| Two years after UC-Davis pomologists Gale McGranahan and Abhaya Dandekar
report the transfer of a foreign gene
into a walnut plant, the first woody crop field
trial begins. |
7/90
|
| The California Supreme Court rules in the John Moore case that a patient
does not have rights to profits from products derived from his own cell
line. |
7/90
|
| The FDA
approves for sale Burroughs Wellcome Co's synthetic lung surfactant, based
on respiratory distress syndrome research conducted by UCSF physiologist
John Clements. |
8/90 |
| The Bay Area Bioscience Center, a non-profit public service corporation
founded by universities, companies and local government, open it's office. |
9/90
|
| UC-Berkeley epidemiologist Mary-Claire King reports in Sciencefinding
a gene linked to breast cancer in
families with a high degree of incidence before age 45. |
12/90
|
| The first transgenic dairy cow, created by
GenPharm International, Inc. is born. The cow will be used to produce milk
proteins to make infant formula. |
12/90
|
| The Human Genome project begins:
the goal is set of mapping the entire human genome by 2005. |
6/90
|
| Cancer patients are treated with a gene
therapy that produces the tumor necrosis factor, a natural tumor fighting
protein. Genes for deafness, colon cancer, inflammation, and sense of smell
are discovered. |
1991
|
| Nature publishes the discovery by Plant Gene Expression Center
research geneticist Sarah Hake that corn's developmental gene, Kn1,
contains
a homebox for regulating gene expression. |
3/91
|
| Genes are transferred to treat
patients with hereditary high cholesterol, adult brain tumors and neuroblastoma
(a nervous system cancer in infants and children. The genes for adult
muscular dystrophy and childhood deafness are discovered. |
1992
|
| The first physical maps presented for chromosome
21
and chromosome Y. |
6/92
|
| Genes are transferred to treat
patients with cystic fibrosis, malignant melanoma, small-cell lung cancer,
and brain tumors. Researchers discover genes for hereditary colon cancer,
Huntington disease, hyperactivity, Lou Gehrigs disease, the most common
forms of alzheimer's disease, adrenoleukodystrophy, and adult-onset diabetes. |
1993
|
| USDA approves genetically engineered tomato and cow hormone that stimulates
milk production. |
6/93
|
| The physical maps of the following chromsomes
are published: 3,11,12,16,19 and 22. |
6/95
|
| "Dolly" becomes first the mammal cloned. |
10/97
|
| The Human Genome Project and Celara Genomics Inc. announce a major
milestone in mapping the
human genome. |
6/2000
|
