Biotechnology Development History

Approx. 8000 years before Christ.

First experiments with cultivation of plants.
For the first time, they started cultivating potatoes for consumption.

4000 - 2000 years before Christ.

Biotechnologies are used for the first time for production of bread and beer (Egypt), cheese fermentation (Sumerian, China and Egypt), etc.

500 years before Christ.

China: for the first time an antibiotic was used (mould on soybeans was used for anesthesia), soya curd was used to cure burns.

Approx. 100 year of Anno Domini.

China: for the first time an insecticide was used (dried up and pulverized chrysanthemum petals were used as a fly and mosquito repellent).

1322 year

In the territory of Arabia, for the first time it was used artificial insemination for selection of Arabic race horses.

1590 year

Jenson invented microscope.

1663 year

A British scientist Robert Hooke discovered the existence of human cell.

1675 year

A Dutchman Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovered the existence of bacteria.

1761 year

A German scientist Josef Gottlieb Kölreuter had conducted first experiments on selection of plants.

1797 year

A British physician Edward Jenner had made first vaccination against smallpox.

1830 year

Protein was discovered.

1833 year

Enzymes were discovered.

1835 - 1855 years

Matias Shlejden and Theodor Schwann suggested that all organisms consist of cells.
Rudolf Ludwig Karl Virchow stated that "Omnis cellula ех cellula".

1857 year

A French biologist Louis Pasteur suggested that fermentation is caused by bacteria.

1859 year

Charles Darwin published a book "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life", which develops the theory of evolution.

1865 year

An Austrian monk Gregor Johann Mendel created the new science of genetics (discovery of the inheritance law).

Ideas of С. Darwin and G.J. Mendel gave a push to rapid development of biotechnology. In 1870-1890 years, large-scale cultivation of agricultural crop hybrids has been initiated allowing to creation of thousands new species. In particular:

By cross-breeding, breeders had got hundred new species of better quality cotton plant;
First corn hybrids were obtained;
For the first time, farmers started applying nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the fields (to increase crop yields).

1900 year

For the first time for genetic research, drosophila flies were introduced.

1902 year

Emergence of a term "Immunology".

1906 year

Emergence of a term "Genetics".

1911 year

Discovery of virus.

1919 year

For the first time, a term "Biotechnology" was used in publication.

1920 year

Discovery of hormones.

1928 year

An English scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.
Laibach, for the first time, employed a germ discriminating method to obtain hybrids - a process, which is nowadays known as hybridization.
G.D. Karpechenko cross-bred the radish and cabbage and obtained the fertile breed from plants of different genera.

1930 year

The USA Congress had approved a law on patenting the plant selection products (Plant Patent Act).

1933 year

Corn hybrids had been commercialized in the USA.

1938 year

Emergence of a term "Molecular Biology".

1941 year

A Danish microbiologist Lost had delivered a lecture in the City of Lvov (that time integrated in Poland) and used for the first time a term "Genetic Engineering".

1942 year

Start of large-scale production of penicillin.

1944 year

Avery had proved that DNA bears the genetic information.

1953 year

Inception of the modern age in genetics. American scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick, had discovered a DNA duplex.

1958 year

For the first time, a DNA molecule had been synthesized in laboratory.

1961 year

USDA had registered the first biological pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt.

1963 year

There had been obtained new wheat species increasing the crop yields by 70% (author - Norman Borlaug).

1964 year

Inception of "Green Revolution": International Rice Research Institute in Philippines had managed to double the rice crop yields that allowed to coping with starvation in many countries of Asia.

1966 year

For the first time, it had been perceived an idea of the human genetic code.

1969 year

For the first time, there had been synthesized an enzyme.

1970 year

There had been discovered enzymes that allowed to splitting a DNA molecule in required spots.

1971 year

The first successful synthesis of gene.

1972 year

It had been proved that the human code is 99% similar to that of gorillas and chimpanzees.

1976 year

In USA, the first legislative act to deal with recombinant DNA had been passed.
Sequence of basic doublets in genes (A, C, T, G) had been identified.

1978 year

For the first time, there had been produced recombinant insulin, which was practically similar to the natural one.
This discovery allowed to saving millions of lives of diabetes mellitus patients.
For the first time, human growth hormone had been synthesized.

1980 year

For the first time, a cloning patent had been issued.

1981 year

The first transgenic animal had been created (mouse).
For the first time, Chinese scientists had cloned fish (Orfe: Leuciscus idus).

1982 year

There had been registered the first drug obtained by biotechnological methods (FDA): human insulin produced by bacteria.
First genetic transformation of plant cell: Petunia (coloring of flowers).

1983 year

First genetically modified plant (Tobacco).

1984 year

There had been developed DNA analysis application technology for human identification, and since 1985 it is in use with the work of law-enforcement bodies.

1986 year

For the first time, by means of genetic engineering, a vaccine (Hepatitis B) had been produced, along with the first aid against cancer (interferon).

1987 year

First field tests of genetically modified agricultural plants (tomatoes resistant to viral diseases).

1990 year

Start of a large-scale international project on the human genetic mapping (Human Genom Project). In the same year, for the first time, there had been conducted successful gene therapy that allowed to saving the life of 4 year-old girl who suffered from immunity disorders.
First food product from genetically modified food sources of vegetable origin (GMI) is registered in United Kingdom (modified yeasts).

1993 year

Genetically modified products are accepted to the world shop counters. Practically at the same time, an international campaign has started demanding to ban them.
Biotechnological Industrial Organization (BIO) is founded.
BST is registered (to enhance milk-ejecting activity in cows).

1994 year

There is discovered a gene inducing breast cancer.
First permission of FDA for fully genetically modified food product, FLAVRSAVR TM tomatoes.
BST commercialization under name BST POSILAC.

1995 year

For the first time, there had been transplanted baboon's bone marrow to a patient affected with AIDS.

1996 year

There is discovered a gene inducing Parkinson's disease.
Commercialization of the first genetically modified cultures (RR corn, RR soya, Bt cotton): Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, USA.

1997 year

For the first time, there had been created the cloned animal from germ - the famous Scottish "Dolly Lamb".

1998 year

For the first time, the full genetic map of an animal was created (earthworm).

2000 year

First full mapping of a plant genom: Arabidopsis thaliana.

2001 year

First full map of agricultural plant (rice) was created.
The leading world producers of genetically modified food products have gained record sales. The leader of the industry, Monsanto Company (USA) created potatoes resistant to pathogens; cotton, which is insusceptible to insect pests; soya and corn that are resistant to herbicides killing the weeds. Monsanto Company's sales reached USD 5.5 billion. Founded in 2000, the world biggest agricultural company - Syngenta (Switzerland), together with Monsanto, created the "Gold Rice" with record cropping capacity. Продажи Syngenta's sales reached USD 6.3 billion. Dupont Company (USA) - the biggest producer of vegetable oil in the world. The most famous achievement of the Company is corn resistant to pest worms. Sales of Dupont's agricultural department in 2001 reached USD 4.3 billion.
The US President George Bush banned the use of human germ cells for carrying out research activities. Exception was made only for cells that had been obtained from germs years ago - actually, these are remote "descendants" of human cells grown in laboratory conditions.

2002 year

Practically complete human genetic map was created.
More than 350 preparations and vaccines developed through biotechnologies are widely used in medicine to treat cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, sclerosis, AIDS and arthritis. Crops of genetically modified agricultural plants occupy some 50 million hectares in 13 countries of the world. More than 30% of the world total production of soya, more than 16% of cotton, 11% of canola (oil plant) and 7% of corn are produced with the use of genetic engineering's achievements.
Production of many non-food goods involves biotechnologies - for example, in many brands of detergent powders there are used enzymes, which allow to intensification of washing process and, thus, saving power and water.
In USA, biotechnological industry employs more than 170 thousand people - more than in production of sports and child goods. The US Congress initiates debates on the future of cloning.