MAJOR LANDMARKS IN GENETICS
- 1865- Gregor Mendel, an Australian monk reported experiments in plant hybridization and inheritance in garden peas.
- 1927- Hermann J Müller induced mutations in the fruit fly with X-rays. 1944 DNA proved to be the substance of heredity.
- 1945- George W Beadle and Edward L Tatum proved that the function of most genes is to direct the synthesis of enzymes.
- 1953- James D Watson and FHC Crick reported a double helix structure of DNA, compatible for self duplication.
- 1958- J Herbert Taylor showed how DNA molecules are arranged in the chromosomes, and how they make replicas of themselves.
- 1961- Francois Jacob and Jacques Monod discovered the mechanisms by which hereditary information is transferred from genes to the site of protein syn11 Bacterial Genetics thesis. Their work resulted in the discovery of the genetic code by which DNA is translated into proteins.
- 1962- FHC Crick showed how the order of base in nucleic acid determines the order of amino acid in a protein, i.e. genetic code. He proved that each amino acid is specified by a triplet base, and that triplet should be read in simple sequence.
- 1966- John Cairns discovered that bacterial chromosome is a single, very long DNA molecule and also explained how it is duplicated.
- 1966 FHC Crick showed how protein synthesis takes place in a cell.
- 1967 Charles Yancesky demonstrated a linear arrangement of genes.
- 1968- MW Niremberg and JH Mathei studied the mechanism of protein synthesis.
- 1973- Hargobind Khurana produced the first synthetic functional DNA.
- 1974- Frank H Ruddle and Raju S Kucherlapati studied the mapping of human genes and showed how they are regulated. They also worked on fusion of human somatic cells with other mammals.
- 1979- Charles Weissmann identified genes responsible for synthesis of interferon — an extremely potent antiviral agent.
- 1980- Stanley N Cohen and James A Shapiro showed transposable genetic elements. These elements bypass the rule of ordinary genetic recombination, join together with segment of DNA that are unrelated, transferring groups of genes among plasmids, virus and chromosomes in living cells.
- 1980- Eli Lilly and Co., began commercial production of human insulin through genetic engineering in bacterial cells.
- 1980- Charles Weissmann produced human interferon in bacteria.
- 1982- Eli Lilly and Co., released the first manmade insulin.
- 1983- Dr Andrew Murray and Dr Jack Szotask constructed the first working artificial chromosome.
- 1983- Barbara McClintoch discovered mobile genetic elements.
References