Biotechnology Online

Cross-fertilisation in corn discovered.

Planting of high-yield wheat varieties (later known as ‘Green Revolution‘ grains) begins in Mexico.

First biotechnology patent granted. US researchers awarded a US patent that allows them to make human insulin from genetically modified bacteria.

US patents awarded to companies producing genetically engineered plants.

Dr Kary Mullis invents the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), used to multiply DNA sequences.

At the Waite Institute in Adelaide scientists modify a type of soil bacteria which causes Crown Gall (a disease that damages the roots of stone fruits) by removing the disease-causing gene and replacing it with a gene that protects the plant from Crown Gall. The GM bacteria is successfully tested on almond seedlings.

In the UK, genes are added to potato plants to make them produce more protein and increase their nutritional value. Research into other foods included removing allergy-causing proteins from peanuts.

The first successful field trial of GM herbicide tolerant cotton is conducted in the USA.

The first food products modified by biotechnology, an enzyme for cheese production and a yeast for baking, are approved in the USA and UK, respectively. GenPharm International creates the first GM dairy cow for production of human milk proteins for infant formula.

The first genetically engineered food product, the FlavrSavr® tomato, receives US Food and Drug Administration approval.

Florigene Ltd

Australian Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (GMAC) allows unrestricted, commercial release of a GM blue carnation in Australia.

Scientists in Japan clone eight identical calves using cells from a single adult cow.

40 million hectares of GM crops are planted globally, predominantly soy, cotton, canola and corn.

Australia’s first cloned cows – Suzi and Mayzi – are produced

Arabidopsis thaliana becomes the first entire plant genome to be sequenced. ‘Golden rice‘, a genetically modified variety with genes added which produce a vitamin A precursor, is created.

The genetic code of fruit fly Drosophila is published. Drosophila is the ‘lab rat’ of the genetics world and is used in experiments to investigate genes and gene function.

The Australian Federal Government passes the Gene Technology Act in December to regulate the research, use and release of GMOs in Australia.

Genetic Savings and Clone / Texas A&M University

The human genome is sequenced in draft form and announced jointly by the private company Celera Genomics and a public consortium comprising the US National Institute of Health, Sanger Institute UK and other international research teams.

A single gene from Arabidopsis is inserted into tomato plants to create the first crop able to grow in salty water and soil.

The Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth) takes effect from 21 June. In July GMAC becomes the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee.

First cloned cat, called carbon copy or CC.

Janine Young

Researchers sequence the DNA of rice, the main food source for two-thirds of the world's population. It is the first crop plant to have its genome decoded.

Dolly is put down on 14 February 2003 after it is determined she is suffering from a progressive lung disease. She is subsequently prepared and placed on display in the Scottish National Museum.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator approves commercial release of GM cotton in Australia.

Australia passes two pieces of federal legislation to regulate cloning and embryonic stem cell research. The first, the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002, (Cth), outlaws any form of human cloning, whether it be to generate tissues (somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning) or a new human being (reproductive cloning). The second, the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Cth), allows researchers to access surplus human embryos (to obtain stem cells, under strict conditions.

Scientists unveil the final draft of the human DNA sequence

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator approves commercial release of herbicide tolerant GM canola crops.

UK approves its first commercial biotech crop in eight years, a GM herbicide-resistant corn used for cattle feed.

US Environmental Protection Agency approves the first transgenic rootworm-resistant corn.

The banteng, an endangered species of cattle, is cloned for the first time in the USA. 2003 also brought several other cloning firsts, including donkeys, horses and deer.

Japanese researchers develop a biotech coffee bean that is naturally decaffeinated.

In Australia, despite regulatory approval for GM canola, most state governments place moratoria on growing GM canola in response to consumer concerns.

Australian researchers use gene mapping techniques to identify genes for tenderness and toughness in beef, allowing breeders to select stocks containing the ‘tender‘ gene.

CSIRO develops a test to distinguish between different strains or forms of the avian flu virus, and to provide early warning of the emergence of potentially lethal strains in chicken farms.

CSIRO researchers are working on alternatives to antibiotics to protect livestock against bacterial infections. By selecting animals with genes resistant to infection or using gene therapy, scientists hope to help producers reduce or eliminate their use of antibiotics.

Within the next twenty years a second generation of GM crops is expected with properties that have more direct consumer benefit such as elimination of allergens in food, increased nutritional content, and lower fat and oil levels.

Third generation GM crops may have properties like salt tolerance, drought resistance, drugs and vaccines within them, and plastic starter chemicals to create bioplastics.