U.S. federal DNA Identification Act of 1994 was mandated
In 1994, the DNA Identification Act authorized the establishment of a national index of: (1) DNA identification records…
National Center for Genome Resources was founded
In 1994, National Center for Genome Resources (NCGR) founded with support from Senator Pete Domenici as an independent…
DNA of tuberculosis was isolated from a 1,000 Peruvian mummy
On Dec. 1, 1993, scientists reported the recovery of DNA unique to Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a lung lesion…
Michael Smith was awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry
In 1993, Dr. Michael Smith from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver was awarded one half the…
Kary B. Mullis was awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry
In 1993, Kary B. Mullis of La Jolla, CA and a graduate of the University of California at…
DNA first used in Montana for murder conviction
On Nov. 19, 1992, Larry Moore was convicted of the murder of former Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad…
DNA evidence used to identify Josef Mengele from skeletal remains
In 1992, DNA evidence was used to identify Josef Mengele from skeletal remains. Bone DNA analysis was therefore…
University of Iowa Research Foundation received U.S. patents for CMV promoter
In 1992, the University of Iowa (UI) Research Foundation received its first U.S. patent on the CMV promoter,…
University of Washington announced the recruitment of Leroy Hood to establish the Dept of Molecular Biotechnology
On Oct. 7, 1991, the University of Washington (UW) announced a $12 million gift from Microsoft co-founder Bill…
Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” novel was published, introducing DNA technology to a wide audience
On Nov. 20, 1990, Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” novel was pulbished, introducing DNA technology to a wide audience….
First use of DNA evidence to convict a killer in the U.S.
In Feb. 21, 1989, George Wesley was sentenced to 38 1/2 years to life in prison for the…
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers produced first direct images of DNA
On Jan. 19, 1989, a team of researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the U.S. produced the…
West Virginia high court ruled in favor of admitting DNA evidence
In 1989, the West Virginia high court ruled in favor of admitting DNA evidence. In 1984, geneticis Sir…
Allan Wilson and Svante Pabo analyzed DNA of the now-extinct Tasmanian tiger
In 1989, Allan Wilson and Svante Paabo analyzed DNA of the now-extinct Tasmanian tiger to demonstrate they could…
DNA used to resolve murders in the UK – World first
On Jan. 23, 1988, Colin Pitchfork was convicted of murdering two girls in 1983 and 1986 in Narborough,…
First detailed description of the rate of mutation in humans at the DNA level reported at University of Leicester
In 1988, the first detailed description of the rate of mutation in humans at the DNA level was…
James C. Wang discovered DNA topoisomerases
In 1988, James C. Wang discovered DNA topoisomerases, which led to greater understanding of enzymes’ role in biological…
Integrated DNA Technologies was founded in Coralville, Iowa
In 1987, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a University of Iowa spin-off company founded by Dr. Joseph Walder, established…
Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax HB by Merck) was licensed
On Jul. 23, 1986, the Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax HB by Merck) was licensed. Using recombinant DNA…
The first recombinant vaccine for humans, a vaccine for hepatitis B, was approved
In May 1986, the vaccine Recombivax HB, which protects against hepatitis B infection, was approved for marketing in…
First clinical tests conducted at UW of EPO to correct anemia of kidney failure
On Dec. 2, 1985, the first clinical tests were held at the University of Washington of erythropoietin (EPO),…
Swedish biologist Svante Paabo analzyed ancient DNA in Egyptian mummies
On Apr. 16, 1985, Swedish biologist Svante Paabo of University of Uppsala in Sweden, a pioneer of ancient…
DNA fingerprinting discovered at University of Leicester first used to resolve disputed immigration
In 1985, DNA fingerprinting was first used to resolve a disputed immigration case that confirmed the identity of…
The human p53 gene was cloned
On Dec. 20, 1984, a team of scientists announced that a cDNA clone for human p53 cellular tumor…
Alec Jefferies and technician Vicky Wilson discovered minisatellites leading to the development of genetic fingerprinting
On Sept. 10, 1984, geneticist Alec Jeffreys, and technician Vicky Wilson at the University of Leicester in England…
Federal District Court Judge John Sirica temporarily halted federally funded experiments involving release of recombinant DNA organisms
On May 17, 1984, Federal District Court Judge John J. Sirica temporarily halts all federally funded experiments involving…
The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique, which is a DNA analysis technique, is used in cancer research
In 1983, the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) was uncovered by the use of restriction endonucleases which cleave…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Environmental | EPA | NIH
National Institute of Health unanimously approved Lindow test
In 1983, the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee unanimously approved Lindow test. Stephen Lindow,…
The polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) was introduced
In 1983, Kary Mullis, PhD, a scientist at the Cetus Corp., conceived of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as…
Biotechnology | Disease | FDA | Therapeutics
The first biotech drug, human insulin produced in genetically modified bacteria, was approved by FDA
On Oct. 28, 1982, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Humulin, Eli Lily’s recombinant insulin made…