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Charles Darwin
Darwin publishes "On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection" developing the idea pf evolution. He concluded that species evolve due to "survival of the fittest." -
Gregor Mendel
Mendel conducted a experiment on pea plants to study heredity. He was able to understand the fundamental laws of inheritance through the experiment. He watched the parents genes and appearance in the offspring as dominant or recessive. Mendel's Laws of Heredity are: The Law of Segregation, The Law of Independent Assortment, and The Law of Dominance. (http://www.dnaftb.org/1/bio.html) -
Wilhelm Johannsen
Johannsen coined the word "gene" in 1909. He used it to describe the Mendelian unit of heredity. He also started the use of the words genotype and phenotype. Genotype are for an organisms genes and phenotypes describe an organisms physical appearance. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wilhelm-Ludvig-Johannsen) -
Vernon Ingram
Ingram found the cause of sickle cell anemia in 1956. A chemical alteration in hemoglobin protein causes the disease. A single amino acid substitution is responsible for the molecular abnormality that leads to sickle cell anemia. (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/25/obituaries/25ingram.html?_r=0) -
Genentech
Herbert Boyer found the first genetic engineering company. It produced the first human protein in a bacterium, and the first recombinant DNA drug, human insulin. -
Human Genome Project
In December 1984, the DOE, NIH, and other groups had meetings. They talked about the usefulness and feasibility of the Human Genome Project. Mapping the human genome would help advance biology technology and detect mutations that nuclear radiation might causes. In 1990, they started their plan for the 15-year project. (https://www.genome.gov/12011238/an-overview-of-the-human-genome-project/) -
Mouse Genetic Map Completed
Mouse are very important to science research. Mice and humans share almost all their genes, up to 85%. With this mapped, it help increases the use of mice as models for genetic human diseases. -
E. Coli Genome Sequenced
The E. Coli genome was completely sequenced in 1997. The complete mapping is helping scientist further study this bacterium. Scientists use a strain of E. Coli that is not a pathogen and they compare it to the E. Coli that cause illness. They can now compare the strains to figure out treatments to the illness. -
First Draft of the Human Genome Sequence Released
The first draft of the human genome sequence covered more than 90 percent of the human genome. People can access the data via the Internet without restrictions. They found 20,000-25,000 of genes and the DNA in any two individuals is 99.9% identical. -
Premature Aging Gene Identified
A team of researchers have discovered a gene associated with premature aging which is a rare disease. HGPS or Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is an aging disease, usually kids will age 5 to 10 times faster. Now that the gene has been found, doctors can identify HGPS in newborns than identifying it when symptoms are shown.
