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.
1859: Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species, proposing continual evolution of species 1865: Mendel's Peas 1869: DNA First Isolated 1879: Mitosis Observed
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
1941: One Gene, One Enzyme 1943: X-ray Diffraction of DNA 1944: DNA is "Transforming Principle" 1944: Jumping Genes
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
1961: mRNA Ferries Information 1961: First Screen for Metabolic Defect in Newborns 1966: Genetic Code Cracked 1968: First Restriction Enzymes Described
1972: First Recombinant DNA 1973: First Animal Gene Cloned 1975-77: DNA Sequencing 1976: First Genetic Engineering Company 1977: Introns Discovered
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: Microsatelites, New Genetic Markers 1989: Sequence-tagged Sites, Another Marker
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: 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: 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
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
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
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
Last Updated: March 26, 2008