100 Greatest Discoveries: Genetics and Gregor Mendal

Origin of Species

Nov 24, 1859

Darwin introduced scientific theory about that populations evolve during the course of generations through a process known as natural selection. When Darwin posed his evolutionary theory was not known how characters are inherited, if Mendel had not made his observations, Darwin's theory would have been refuted and maybe such theory would not be accepted today.

Mendel's Laws

Dec 31, 1865

Mendel's Laws (Gregory Mendel 1865-1866) are a set of basic rules on the transfer by inheritance of the characteristics of the parent organisms to their children. If Mendel had not discovered his laws observing green peas, perhaps we would not have known the genetics because these inheritance rules are the foundation of that science.

Rediscovered Mendel's laws

Dec 31, 1900

Mendel died without receiving any recognition for their discoveries because of were ignored at the time because It was advanced to the knowledge of his time, but Correns, DeVries and von Tschermack rediscovered Mendel's laws in 1900. If such laws had not been rediscovered, Mendel's work would not have known.

Morgan and Drosophila melanogaster

Dec 31, 1909

Morgan and his school help relate the laws of Mendel with the chromosome theory creating classical genetics. If Morgan had not used Drosophila melanogaster as a object of study, it would not have been possible to develop the theory chromosomal that is the following scale after knowledge of the genes.

Structure of the DNA molecule

Apr 25, 1953

James Watson and Francis Crick in the journal Nature described the structure of the DNA molecule in April 25, 1953. If They had not discovered how was DNA, nowadays would not have solved many problems paternity or homicide, and all thanks to that already knew that the characters was inherited by genes, Thanks to Mendel.

Sanger method

Dec 31, 1975

In 1975, Frederick Sanger developed DNA sequencing method known as Sanger method. If it method had not been invented, It wouldn´t have done sequencing as the human genome project.

PCR

Jan 1, 1983

Thanks to the discovery of the genetic bases it developed molecular methods such as Chain Reaction of Polymerase or PCR that was invented in 1983 by Kary B. Mullis. If it had not done this invention, it would not have been efficient obtaining DNA of small samples as is used in criminology.

First transgenic plant

Dec 31, 1983

In 1983 was produced the first transgenic plant. If had not known as genes work, it would not have produced food with better characteristics by modification genetically although its production is controversial today.

Human Genome Project

Dec 31, 1990

Thanks to genetic knowledge began the Human Genome Project in 1990, if it had not discovered all the basic principles of DNA, it would have not been possible to start this project and hence it would have not continued the advances in understanding genetic cause of many disease and behaviors.

Nowadays

Dec 31, 2003

In 2003, the scientists involved in the Human Genome Project, which began in 1990, completed the sequence of the nearly 3,000 million "letters" that contain human genetic instructions. If these scientists had not been able to encode human genetic sequences, the current scientists wouldn´t have developed new treatments against defects produced for inheritance.