HomeEducational ResourcesOnline Education Kit: Understanding the Human Genome Project Online Education Kit: Timeline

Share this page Print

Timeline Our Molecular Selves How to Sequence a Genome Bioinformatics Genes, Variation and Human History ELSI Articles of Interest

Timeline

Navigate through this timeline of milestones in genetics, with more than 90 key events and discoveries. Read short, illustrated stories or find archival images and original scientific publications.

Go to Multimedia Downloads to download the Timeline to your computer!

1800s

1859: Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species, proposing continual evolution of species 1865: Mendel's Peas 1869: DNA First Isolated 1879: Mitosis Observed

Top of page

1900s

1900: Rediscovery of Mendel's work 1902: Orderly Inheritance of Disease Observed 1902: Chromosome Theory of Heredity 1909: The Word Gene Coined 1911: Fruit Flies Illuminate the Chromosome Theory

Top of page

1940's

1941: One Gene, One Enzyme 1943: X-ray Diffraction of DNA 1944: DNA is "Transforming Principle" 1944: Jumping Genes

Top of page

1950's

1952: Genes are Made of DNA 1953: DNA Double Helix 1955: 46 Human Chromosomes 1955: DNA Copying Enzyme 1956: Cause of Disease Traced to Alteration 1958: Semiconservative Replication of DNA 1959: Chromosome Abnormalities Identified

Top of page

1960's

1961: mRNA Ferries Information 1961: First Screen for Metabolic Defect in Newborns 1966: Genetic Code Cracked 1968: First Restriction Enzymes Described

Top of page

1970's

1972: First Recombinant DNA 1973: First Animal Gene Cloned 1975-77: DNA Sequencing 1976: First Genetic Engineering Company 1977: Introns Discovered

Top of page

1980's

1981-82: First Transgenic Mice and Fruit Flies 1982: GenBank Database Formed 1983: First Disease Gene Mapped 1983: PCR Invented 1986: First Time Gene Positionally Cloned 1987: First Human Genetic Map 1987: YACs Developed 1989: Microsatellites, New Genetic Markers 1989: Sequence-tagged Sites, Another Marker

Top of page

1990's

1990-1994
	1990: Launch of the Human Genome Project 1990: ELSI Founded 1990: Research on BACs 1991: ESTs, Fragments of Genes 1992: Second-generation Genetic Map of Human Genome 1992: Data Release Guidelines Established 1993: NEW HGP Five-year Plan 1994: FLAVR SAVR Tomato 1994: Detailed Human Genetic Map 1994: Microbial Genome Project

1995-1996

1995: Ban on Genetic Discrimination in Workplace 1995: Two Microbial Genomes Sequenced 1995: Physical Map of Human Genome Completed 1996: International Strategy Meeting on Human Genome Sequencing 1996: Mouse Genetic Map Completed 1996: Yeast Genome Sequenced 1996: Archaea Genome Sequenced 1996: Health Insurance Discrimination Banned 1996: 280,000 Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) 1996: Human Gene Map Created 1996: Human DNA Sequence Begins

1997-1999

1997: Bermuda Meeting Affirms Principle of Data Release 1997: E. coli Genome Sequenced 1997: Recommendations on Genetic Testing 1998: Private Company Announces Sequencing Plan 1998: M. Tuberculosis Bacterium Sequenced 1998: Committee on Genetic Testing 1998: HGP Map Includes 30,000 Human Genes 1998: New HGP Goals for 2003 1998: SNP Initiative Begins 1998: Genome of Roundworm C. elegans Sequenced 1999: Full-scale Human Genome Sequencing 1999: Chromosome 22

Top of page

2000 - 2001

2000: Free Access to Genomic Information 2000: Chromosome 21 2000: Working Draft 2000: Drosophila and Arabidopsis genomes sequenced 2000: Executive Order Bans Genetic Descrimination in the Federal Workplace 2000: Yeast Interactome Published 2000: Fly Model of Parkinson's Disease Reported 2001: First Draft of the Human Genome Sequence Released 2001: RNAi Shuts Off Mammalian Genes 2001: FDA Approves Genetics-based Drug to Treat Leukemia

Top of page

2002 - 2003

2002: Mouse Genome Sequenced 2002: Researchers Find Genetic Variation Associated with Prostate Cancer 2002: Rice Genome Sequenced 2002: The International HapMap Project is Announced 2002: The Genomes to Life Program is Launched 2002: Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Bipolar Disorder 2003: Human Genome Project Completed 2003: Fiftieth Anniversary of Watson and Crick's Description of the Double Helix 2003: The First National DNA Day Celebrated 2003: ENCODE Program Begins 2003: Premature Aging Gene Identified

Top of page

2004 - The Future

2004: Rat and Chicken Genomes Sequenced 2004: FDA Approves First Microarray 2004: Refined Analysis of Complete Human Genome Sequence 2004: Surgeon General Stresses Importance of Family History 2005: Chimpanzee Genomes Sequenced 2005: HapMap Project Completed 2005: Trypanosomatid Genomes Sequenced 2005: Dog Genomes Sequenced 2006: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Project Started 2006: Second Non-human Primate Genome is Sequenced 2006: Initiatives to Establish the Genetic and Environmental Causes of Common Diseases Launched The Future

Top of page

Last Updated: July 31, 2009