History Of Biotechnology PDF

# History of Biotechnology ## Unit 9: Microbiology ### What is Biotechnology? - Biotechnology is the branch of molecular biology that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial processes. "Biotechnology produced genetically altered bacteria that solved the problem". ### Biote...

# History of Biotechnology ## Unit 9: Microbiology ### What is Biotechnology? - Biotechnology is the branch of molecular biology that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial processes. "Biotechnology produced genetically altered bacteria that solved the problem". ### Biotechnology in B.C. - **500 BC:** The Chinese use moldy curds to treat boils as an antibiotic. - **250 BC:** The Greeks practice crop rotation to increase soil fertility. - **100 BC:** The Chinese use powdered chrysanthemum as an insecticide. ### Pre-20th Century Biotechnology - **1590:** Janssen invents the microscope. - **1663:** Hooke discovers cells. - **1675:** Leeuwenhoek discovers bacteria and protozoa. - **1797:** Jenner inoculates a child with a viral vaccine to protect him from smallpox. - **1802:** The term "biology" is first used. - **1830:** Proteins, the building blocks of cells, are discovered. - **1833:** The nucleus of the cell is discovered. - **1855:** The E. coli bacterium is discovered. - **1855:** Pasteur works with yeast, eventually proving they are living organisms. - **1863:** Mendel discovers genes while working with peas. He lays the groundwork for genetics. - **1879:** Flemming discovers chromatins - **1883:** The rabies vaccine is developed. - **1888:** Waldyer discovers the chromosome. ### Biotechnology In The First Part of The 20th Century - **1902:** The term "immunology" is first used. - **1906:** The term "genetics" is used. - **1915:** Bacterial viruses, called phages, are discovered. - **1919:** The word "biotechnology" is first used. - **1927:** Muller discovers that X-rays cause mutation. - **1928:** Fleming discovers penicillin. - **1938:** The term "molecular biology" is used." - **1941:** The term "genetic engineering" is first used. - **1942:** The electron microscope is used, and it characterizes viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages. - **1944:** DNA is shown to be the building block of the gene. - **1949:** Pauling proves that sickle cell anemia is a "molecular disease" caused by a mutation. ### Biotechnology in the 1950s and 1960s - **1953:** Watson and Crick understand the structure of DNA. - **1954:** Cell-culturing techniques are first used. - **1955:** An enzyme involved in the production of a nucleic acid is isolated. - **1956:** The fermentation process is perfected. - **1960:** Messenger RNA is discovered. - **1961:** The genetic code is understood. ### Biotechnology in the 1970s - **1972:** The DNA composition of humans is shown to be 99% similar to that of chimps and gorillas. - **1977:** Genetically-engineered bacteria are used to make human growth protein. - **1978:** North Carolina scientists, Hutchinson and Edgell, prove that it is possible to introduce specific mutations at specific sites in a DNA molecule. - **1979:** The first monoclonal antibodies are synthesized. ### Biotechnology in the 1980s - **1980:** The U.S. Supreme Court approves the patenting of genetically-engineered life forms. - **1980:** The U.S. patent for gene cloning is awarded to Boyer and Cohen. - **1981:** The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is created - the 1st state-sponsored research center for biotechnology. - **1981:** The first genetically-engineered plant is reported. - **1981:** The first mice are successfully cloned. - **1982:** Humulin, human insulin drug, produced by genetically-engineered bacteria (first biotech drug approved by the FDA). - **1983:** The first artificial chromosome is made. - **1983:** The first genetic markers for specific inherited diseases are found. - **1984:** The DNA fingerprinting technique is developed. - **1984:** The first genetically-engineered vaccine is developed. - **1986:** The first biotech-derived interferon drugs for the treatment of cancer are synthesized. - **1988:** Congress funds the Human Genome Project. - **1989:** Microorganisms are used to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill. ### Biotechnology in the 1990s - **1990:** The first federally-approved gene therapy treatment is performed successfully. - **1992:** The structure of HIV RT is elucidated. - **1993:** The FDA declares that genetically engineered foods are "not inherently dangerous." - **1994:** The first breast cancer gene is discovered. - **1996:** Scientists clone identical lambs from early embryonic sheep. - **1998:** Scientists clone three generations of mice from nuclei of adult ovarian cells. - **1998:** Embryonic stem cells are used to regenerate tissue and create disorders that mimic diseases. - **1998:** The Biotechnology Institute is founded by BIO as an independent, national, 501(c)(3) education organization. - **1999:** The genetic code of the human chromosome is deciphered. ### Biotechnology 2000 and Beyond - **2000:** A rough draft of the human genome is completed. - **2000:** Pigs are the next animal cloned by researchers to help produce organs for human transplant. - **2001:** The sequence of the human genome is published in Science and Nature. - **2002:** Scientists complete the sequence of the pathogen of rice, a fungus that ruins enough rice to feed 60 million people annually. - **2003:** Dolly, the cloned sheep from 1997, is euthanized. ### Resources - http://www.biotechinstitute.org