Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/2. Physics & Chemistry/03. Chemistry & Periodic Table of Elements • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
This timeline traces the seminal contributions, inventions, and lasting legacies of leading figures in biochemistry and enzymatic catalysis, from ancient foundations to modern breakthroughs, highlighting global perspectives.
Chronological Storyline (41 Milestones)
3000 BCE
Ancient Egyptian Fermentation
Ancient Egyptians use fermentation to make bread and beer, an early application of enzymatic processes. #biochemistry #ancient
Ancient Egyptian Fermentation By →AzaToth - self made based on PDB entry, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68596
500 BCE
Chinese Daoist Alchemy
Daoist alchemists in China develop elixirs and explore natural transformations, laying groundwork for biochemical thought. #biochemistry #alchemy
Chinese Daoist Alchemy By Géry Parent - collection perso., Copyrighted free use, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2962532
800 CE
Islamic Golden Age Digestion Studies
Alchemists like Jabir ibn Hayyan study digestion and bodily fluids, advancing early biochemical concepts. #biochemistry #islamicgoldenage
Islamic Golden Age Digestion Studies By Unknown author - https://cdn.britannica.com/10/132710-050-CECF006B/illustration-manuscript-Abu-Musa-Jabir-ibn-Hayyan.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166835469
1553 CE
Servetus Describes Pulmonary Circulation
Michael Servetus describes pulmonary circulation, influencing understanding of blood biochemistry. #biochemistry #medicine
Servetus Describes Pulmonary Circulation By Christian Fritzsch - Private collectioninstitution QS:P195,somevalue,P3831,Q768717, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=167250
1665 CE
Hooke Discovers Cells
Robert Hooke discovers cells in cork, founding cell biology and later biochemistry. #biochemistry #cellbiology
Hooke Discovers Cells By Mary Beale - https://arthistoryproject.com/artists/mary-beale/portrait-of-a-mathematician/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92677611
1774 CE
Priestley Discovers Oxygen
Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen, essential for understanding respiration and metabolic biochemistry. #biochemistry #chemistry
Priestley Discovers Oxygen By James Sharples - https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.77.160?destination=node/63231%3Fedan_local%3D1%26edan_q%3DJoseph, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=193629762
1785 CE
Lavoisier Studies Respiration
Antoine Lavoisier measures oxygen consumption in animals, linking respiration to combustion. #biochemistry #metabolism
Lavoisier Studies Respiration By Jacques-Louis David - Metropolitan Museum of Art: entry 436106 (accession number: 1977.10), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=141652400
1828 CE
Wöhler Synthesizes Urea
Friedrich Wöhler synthesizes urea from inorganic compounds, refuting vitalism and founding organic chemistry. #biochemistry #chemistry
Wöhler Synthesizes Urea By Rudolph Hoffmann - Eigenes Foto einer Originallithographie der ÖNB (Wien), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16652576
1833 CE
Payen and Persoz Isolate Diastase
Anselme Payen and Jean-François Persoz isolate diastase (amylase), the first enzyme discovered. #biochemistry #enzymes
1857 CE
Pasteur Links Fermentation to Microbes
Louis Pasteur shows fermentation is caused by living cells, advancing biochemistry and microbiology. #biochemistry #microbiology
Pasteur Links Fermentation to Microbes By Paul Nadar - File:Louis Pasteur, foto av Paul Nadar.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28039885
1869 CE
Miescher Discovers DNA
Friedrich Miescher isolates nuclein (DNA) from white blood cells, identifying the molecule of heredity. #biochemistry #genetics
Miescher Discovers DNA By Unknown author - copied from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/photo51/images/befo-miescher.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=789048
1877 CE
Kühne Coins 'Enzyme'
Wilhelm Kühne introduces the term 'enzyme' to describe biological catalysts. #biochemistry #enzymes
Kühne Coins 'Enzyme' By Carl Lange Heidelberg - HeidICON via Prometheus, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64103923
1894 CE
Fischer Proposes Lock-and-Key Model
Emil Fischer proposes the lock-and-key model for enzyme-substrate specificity. #biochemistry #enzymes
Fischer Proposes Lock-and-Key Model By Unknown author - https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/29/85/3104172da6b66ab0d72a53a71f82.jpg Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/V0027668.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-23): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pbekk7qp CC-BY-4.0, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=180238528
1897 CE
Büchner Discovers Cell-Free Fermentation
Eduard Büchner demonstrates fermentation using yeast extract without living cells, proving enzymes act independently. #biochemistry #enzymes
Büchner Discovers Cell-Free Fermentation By Unknown author - http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1907/buchner.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18253176
1901 CE
Takamine Purifies Adrenaline
Jokichi Takamine isolates and crystallizes adrenaline, the first hormone purified from a natural source. #biochemistry #hormones
Takamine Purifies Adrenaline By AnonymousUnknown author - Science history Institute [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8462606
1902 CE
Bayliss and Starling Discover Secretin
Ernest Starling and William Bayliss discover secretin, the first hormone, and coin the term 'hormone'. #biochemistry #endocrinology
Bayliss and Starling Discover Secretin By National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine - NCBI's Genome Decoration Page., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61368958
1913 CE
Michaelis-Menten Equation Published
Leonor Michaelis and Maud Menten publish the Michaelis-Menten equation, describing enzyme kinetics. #biochemistry #enzymes
Michaelis-Menten Equation Published By Athel cb - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130422583
1921 CE
Banting and Best Isolate Insulin
Frederick Banting and Charles Best isolate insulin, revolutionizing diabetes treatment. #biochemistry #medicine
Banting and Best Isolate Insulin By User:AtikaAtikawa - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107840330
1926 CE
Sumner Crystallizes Urease
James B. Sumner crystallizes urease, proving enzymes are proteins and winning a Nobel Prize. #biochemistry #enzymes
Sumner Crystallizes Urease By Unknown author - http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1946/sumner.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18260359
1929 CE
Fleming Discovers Penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin, the first antibiotic, impacting biochemistry and medicine. #biochemistry #antibiotics
Fleming Discovers Penicillin By Official photographer - http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//32/media-32192/large.jpg This photograph TR 1468 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24436974
1937 CE
Krebs Cycle Elucidated
Hans Krebs discovers the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), central to cellular respiration. #biochemistry #metabolism
Krebs Cycle Elucidated By Narayanese, WikiUserPedia, YassineMrabet, TotoBaggins - http://biocyc.org/META/NEW-IMAGE?type=PATHWAY&object=TCA. Image adapted from Image:Citric acid cycle noi.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6217701
1944 CE
Avery-MacLeod-McCarty Experiment
Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty show DNA is the transforming principle, proving it carries genetic information. #biochemistry #genetics
Avery-MacLeod-McCarty Experiment By Bbkkk - self-made in the Naturkunste Museum in Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3679283
1951 CE
Pauling Proposes Alpha Helix
Linus Pauling proposes the alpha helix structure for proteins, a breakthrough in biochemistry. #biochemistry #proteins
Pauling Proposes Alpha Helix By Theislikerice - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81729199
1953 CE
Watson and Crick Discover DNA Structure
James Watson and Francis Crick determine the double helix structure of DNA, founding molecular biology. #biochemistry #dna
Watson and Crick Discover DNA Structure By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=510095
1955 CE
Sanger Sequences Insulin
Frederick Sanger sequences the amino acid sequence of insulin, first protein sequenced. #biochemistry #proteins
1957 CE
Kornberg Discovers DNA Polymerase
Arthur Kornberg discovers DNA polymerase I, enabling in vitro DNA replication. #biochemistry #enzymes
Kornberg Discovers DNA Polymerase By Yikrazuul - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=427810
1958 CE
Meselson-Stahl Experiment
Matthew Meselson and Franklin Stahl demonstrate semi-conservative DNA replication. #biochemistry #genetics
1961 CE
Monod and Jacob Propose Operon Model
François Jacob and Jacques Monod propose the operon model for gene regulation in bacteria. #biochemistry #genetics
1965 CE
Holley Sequences tRNA
Robert W. Holley sequences the first tRNA (alanine tRNA), deciphering the genetic code. #biochemistry #rna
Holley Sequences tRNA By Unknown - http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1968/, PD-Sweden, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34693347
1970 CE
Baltimore and Temin Discover Reverse Transcriptase
David Baltimore and Howard Temin independently discover reverse transcriptase, revolutionizing molecular biology. #biochemistry #enzymes
Baltimore and Temin Discover Reverse Transcriptase By Thomas Splettstoesser (www.scistyle.com) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33598425
1972 CE
Berg Creates First Recombinant DNA
Paul Berg creates the first recombinant DNA molecule, founding genetic engineering. #biochemistry #biotech
Berg Creates First Recombinant DNA By Unknown author - http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/CD/B/B/L/L/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3702286
1977 CE
Sanger Develops DNA Sequencing
Frederick Sanger develops the Sanger sequencing method, enabling genome sequencing. #biochemistry #genomics
Sanger Develops DNA Sequencing By Estevezj - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23264166
1983 CE
Mullis Invents PCR
Kary Mullis invents the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplifying DNA and transforming molecular biology. #biochemistry #biotech
Mullis Invents PCR By Madprime - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2104468
1985 CE
Cech and Altman Discover Ribozymes
Thomas Cech and Sidney Altman discover ribozymes (catalytic RNA), expanding enzyme definition. #biochemistry #rna
Cech and Altman Discover Ribozymes By William G. Scott - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2257831
1987 CE
Leprosy Genome Sequenced
The genome of Mycobacterium leprae is sequenced, early bacterial genomics. #biochemistry #genomics
Leprosy Genome Sequenced By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1783282
1997 CE
Prusiner Wins Nobel for Prions
Stanley Prusiner wins Nobel for discovering prions, infectious proteins causing diseases. #biochemistry #proteins
Prusiner Wins Nobel for Prions By Boghog - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=151862245
2003 CE
Human Genome Project Completed
The Human Genome Project publishes a complete human genome sequence, a milestone in biochemistry. #biochemistry #genomics
Human Genome Project Completed By U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome Project - http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2485616
Yamanaka Discovers iPS Cells By NIH Image Gallery from Bethesda, Maryland, USA - Human induced pluripotent stem cell colony, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114900547
2012 CE
CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna develop CRISPR-Cas9, a precise genome editing tool. #biochemistry #genomeediting
CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing By Deposition authors: Nishimasu, H., Ishitani, R., Nureki, O.; Visualization author: Synpath - Atom coordinates: https://www.rcsb.org/structure/4OO8; Visualization: Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133423568
2018 CE
First Enzyme Designed by AI
An AI-driven design creates a novel enzyme, demonstrating computational biochemistry. #biochemistry #ai
2020 CE
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Developed
mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are developed, leveraging decades of biochemistry research. #biochemistry #vaccines
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Developed By Shuqin Xu, Kunpeng Yang, Rose Li, and Lu Zhang - Xu, S.; Yang, K.; Li, R.; Zhang, L. mRNA Vaccine Era—Mechanisms, Drug Platform and Clinical Prospection. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 6582. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186582, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106937729
