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Charles Darwin's Trip
In 1859 he published The Origin of Species. Which introduces the process called natural selection, which was when something evolved or adapted to meet the requirements needed to survive. Darwin’s theory of evolution and the process of natural selection later became known simply as Darwinism. In the next century, DNA studies provided scientific evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution. There is controversy surrounding it due to Creationism — the religious view that all of nature was born of God. -
Gregor Mendel discovers the basic principles of genetics
This not only changes the teaching that identical twins have the same DNA but it also means for the first time forensic and paternity testing can identify which identical twin was involved. This has all been possible thanks to a dedicated team that have successfully completed a research project to genetically discriminate “identical” monozygotic twins. Until this point it has been only theory that monozygotic twins are 100% genetically identical. -
Friedrich Miescher identifies "nuclein"
Although Mie did most of his work in 1869, his paper on nuclein wasn't published until 1871. Nuclein was such a unique molecule that Seyler was skeptical and wanted to confirm Mie results before publication. Mie continued to work on nuclein for the rest of his career. He also examined the metabolic changes that occur in salmon when they spawn. It would be years before the role of nucleic acids were recognized. Mei believed that proteins were the molecules of heredity. -
Mendel's theories are rediscovered by researchers
Hugo DeVries, Carl Correns and Erich von Tschermak - independently rediscovered Mendel's work in the same year, a generation after Mendel published his papers. They helped expand awareness of the Mendelian laws of inheritance in the scientific world.The three Europeans, unknown to each other, were working on different plant hybrids when they each worked out the laws of inheritance. -
Sir Archibald Edward Garrod is the first to associate Mendel's theories with a human disease
Based on discussions with Mendel advocate William Bateson, Garrod deduced that alkaptonuria is a recessive disorder. He believed that diseases were the result of missing or false steps in the body's chemical pathways. In 1923, his studies on alkaptonuria, cystinuria, pentosuria, and albinism were published as a book: Inborn Errors of Metabolism. Garrod attributed a biochemical role to genes, and laid the groundwork for the next wave of discovery — the molecular basis of inheritance. -
James Watson and Francis Crick discover the double helix structure of DNA
In short order, their discovery yielded ground-breaking insights into the genetic code and protein synthesis. During the 1970s and 1980s, it helped to produce new and powerful scientific techniques, specifically recombinant DNA research, genetic engineering, rapid gene sequencing, and monoclonal antibodies, techniques on which today's multi-billion dollar biotechnology industry is founded. Major current advances in science, the mapping of the human genome and gene therapy originated from W&C. -
Dolly the sheep is cloned
Dolly was part of a series of experiments at The Roslin Institute that were trying to develop a better method for producing genetically modified livestock. Dolly was important because she was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. Her birth proved that specialised cells could be used to create an exact copy of the animal they came from. This knowledge changed what scientists thought was possible and opened up a lot of possibilities in biology. -
First human chromosome is decoded
Lead researcher Dr Ian Dunham, senior research fellow at the Sanger Centre, in Cambridge, said: “With the sequencing of chromosome 22, we have achieved the longest sequencing of DNA yet achieved in any organism. It will now be possible to identify candidate genes for diseases associated with changes to this chromosome.” The publication is the first milestone in the human genome project—a worldwide collaborative effort to decipher the complete genetic code. -
Mouse is the first mammal to have its genome decoded
The achievement represents a landmark advance for the Human Genome Project. It is the first time that scientists have compared and contrasted the contents of the human genome with that of another mammal. This milestone is all the more significant given that the laboratory mouse is the most important animal model and is widely used in the study of human diseases. It allows them to recognize functionally important regions in the human genome by virtue of the fact that they are conserved. -
DNA Worldwide and Eurofins Forensic discover identical twins have differences in their genetic makeup
This not only changes the teaching that identical twins have the same DNA but it also means for the first time forensic and paternity testing can identify which identical twin was involved. This has all been possible thanks to a dedicated team that have successfully completed a research project to genetically discriminate “identical” monozygotic twins. Until this point it has been only theory that monozygotic twins are 100% genetically identical.