Genomics & Gene Editing: Major Case Studies & Paradigm Shifts
Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/5. Life Sciences • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
This timeline traces the history of genomics and gene editing from ancient selective breeding practices to modern CRISPR-based technologies, highlighting key discoveries and paradigm shifts across cultures and disciplines.
Chronological Storyline (42 Milestones)
10000 BCE
Domestication of plants and animals
Early humans in the Fertile Crescent begin selective breeding of wild grains and animals, inadvertently practicing artificial selection and laying the groundwork for genetic principles. #agriculture #genetics
Domestication of plants and animals By Elembis - File:Mutation and selection diagram.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=145716525
500 BCE
Hippocratic Corpus on heredity
Ancient Greek physicians describe ideas about inheritance, including the concept that traits are passed from parents to offspring, influencing later theories of heredity. #medicine #history
Hippocratic Corpus on heredity By Unidentified engraver - 1881 Young Persons' Cyclopedia of Persons and Places Upload by RedWolf 05:45, Jan 10, 2005 (UTC), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=164808
1000 CE
Al-Zahrawi's surgical and genetic insights
Islamic physician Al-Zahrawi records observations on hereditary diseases and abnormal births in his medical encyclopedia, contributing to early genetics. #medieval #islamicgoldenage
Nov 24, 1859 CE
Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin presents the theory of evolution by natural selection, providing a framework for understanding genetic variation and heredity. #evolution #biology
Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species By John Murray, Publisher - This image has an extracted file: Origin of Species.jpg., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=320416
1865 CE
Mendel's laws of inheritance
Gregor Mendel presents his experiments on pea plants, formulating the basic laws of inheritance and founding the science of genetics. #genetics #science
Mendel's laws of inheritance By Unknown author - NIH, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1394893
1900 CE
Rediscovery of Mendel's work
Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak independently rediscover Mendel's laws, sparking modern genetics. #genetics #history
1909 CE
Gene concept coined by Johannsen
Wilhelm Johannsen coins the term 'gene' to describe the unit of heredity, distinguishing it from the physical basis of inheritance. #genetics #terminology
Gene concept coined by Johannsen By Thomas Shafee - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40736969
1910 CE
Morgan's fruit fly experiments
Thomas Hunt Morgan discovers sex-linked inheritance and chromosomal theory of inheritance using Drosophila melanogaster. #genetics #drosophila
Morgan's fruit fly experiments By Unknown author - http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101422222, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=549067
1928 CE
Griffith's transformation experiment
Frederick Griffith discovers that bacteria can transfer genetic material through transformation, hinting at DNA as the genetic molecule. #genetics #bacteriology
Griffith's transformation experiment By No machine-readable author provided. Madprime assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1819839
1944 CE
Avery-MacLeod-McCarty experiment
Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty demonstrate that DNA is the transforming principle, solidifying DNA as the genetic material. #DNA #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
1952 CE
Hershey-Chase experiment
Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase confirm DNA as the genetic material using bacteriophages. #DNA #molecularbiology
Hershey-Chase experiment By Thomasione - Modified from German Wikipedia [1], GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15034881
Apr 25, 1953 CE
Watson and Crick propose DNA double helix
James Watson and Francis Crick, with Rosalind Franklin's X-ray crystallography data, publish the structure of DNA, revolutionizing molecular biology. #DNA #structure
1958 CE
Meselson-Stahl experiment
Matthew Meselson and Franklin Stahl demonstrate semi-conservative DNA replication, confirming the Watson-Crick model. #DNA #replication
1961 CE
Genetic code deciphered
Marshall Nirenberg, Heinrich Matthaei, and others crack the genetic code, showing how nucleotide triplets encode amino acids. #geneticcode #molecularbiology
Genetic code deciphered By The original uploader was Sverdrup at English Wikipedia. Vectorized by: User:VectorVoyager - Vectorization of https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RNA-codon.png, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124414787
1970 CE
Discovery of restriction enzymes
Hamilton Smith and Daniel Nathans isolate the first restriction enzyme, enabling precise DNA cutting and the birth of genetic engineering. #geneticengineering #enzymes
1972 CE
First recombinant DNA molecule
Paul Berg creates the first recombinant DNA molecule by splicing DNA from different organisms, launching biotechnology. #biotechnology #DNA
First recombinant DNA molecule 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 sequencing developed
Frederick Sanger develops the chain-termination method for DNA sequencing, enabling accurate reading of genetic sequences. #sequencing #genomics
Sanger sequencing developed By Estevezj - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23264166
1983 CE
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) invented
Kary Mullis invents PCR, a technique to amplify DNA exponentially, revolutionizing molecular biology and diagnostics. #PCR #biotechnology
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) invented By Madprime - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2104468
1985 CE
First genetically engineered plant
Scientists produce the first genetically modified plant (tobacco) by introducing foreign DNA, paving the way for agricultural biotechnology. #GMO #agriculture
First genetically engineered plant By Ciencias Españolas KoS - File:ADN_2.png File:Pince_a_épiler.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75624775
Oct 1, 1990 CE
Human Genome Project launched
An international collaboration begins to sequence the entire human genome, marking a milestone in genomics. #genomics #human
Human Genome Project launched 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
Jul 5, 1996 CE
Dolly the sheep cloned
Ian Wilmut and colleagues clone Dolly the sheep from an adult somatic cell, demonstrating mammalian cloning. #cloning #biotechnology )
1998 CE
RNA interference discovered
Andrew Fire and Craig Mello discover RNA interference (RNAi), a gene-silencing mechanism, earning a Nobel Prize. #RNAi #genetics
RNA interference discovered By Dan Cojocari ✉·✍· - Own, This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Adobe Illustrator., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8697221
2000 CE
First plant genome sequenced (Arabidopsis)
The complete genome of Arabidopsis thaliana is published, a model for plant genomics. #genomics #plants
First plant genome sequenced (Arabidopsis) By Original uploader was Brona at en.wikipedia. User:Roepers at nl.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Million_Moments., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3668208
Apr 14, 2003 CE
Human Genome Project completed
The Human Genome Project finishes sequencing the human genome, providing a reference for genetic research. #genomics #human
2005 CE
Next-generation sequencing techniques emerge
New sequencing technologies (e.g., 454, Illumina) dramatically reduce cost and increase speed of DNA sequencing, enabling widespread genomic studies. #sequencing #genomics
Next-generation sequencing techniques emerge By Original: Darekk2, SVG: Palosirkka - File:Hybridogenesis in water frogs gametes.gif, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67142604
2006 CE
Yamanaka induces pluripotent stem cells
Shinya Yamanaka discovers how to reprogram adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), opening new avenues for regenerative medicine. #stemcells #reprogramming
Yamanaka induces pluripotent stem 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
2007 CE
Personal genome sequencing begins
The first complete genome of an individual (James Watson) is sequenced, heralding the era of personal genomics. #genomics #personalizedmedicine
Personal genome sequencing begins By Mikael Häggström, M.D. Author info - Reusing images- Conflicts of interest: None Mikael Häggström, M.D.- The work integrates Public Domain source images by Was A Bee, Kelvin Ma and Michał Komorniczak- Also, a special acknowledgement to everyone involved in the Human Genome Project for generating the source data.edit - editOwn work, integrating the following Public Domain pictures: Chromosomes, with annotated bands and sub-bands, by User:Was a bee, in turn using data from the Human Genome Project, as displayed in the Ensembl genome database: Ensembl - Homo sapiens: Animal Cell.svg by Kelvin Ma (for mitochondrial localization) Animal cell cycle-en.svg by Kelvin Ma (for cell cycle changes at top) Female shadow (for the female silhouette), by Mikael Häggström Autodominant en.svg by Michał Komorniczak (for the male silhouette) The purple hue for the chromosomes and cell nuclei was digitally sampled from the following image: Human Chromosomes (crop), before conversion to grayscale, by SANCHITA20. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license., CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125968286
Jun 28, 2012 CE
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing demonstrated
Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer Doudna, and colleagues show that CRISPR-Cas9 can be programmed to cut specific DNA sequences, revolutionizing gene editing. #CRISPR #geneediting
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing demonstrated 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
2013 CE
First CRISPR editing in human embryos
Chinese scientists report the first use of CRISPR to modify human embryos (non-viable), sparking ethical debates. #CRISPR #ethics
2014 CE
CRISPR-Cas9 applied in non-human primates
Chinese researchers successfully edit genes in cynomolgus monkeys using CRISPR, advancing preclinical models. #CRISPR #primates
Apr 18, 2015 CE
Chinese team edits beta-thalassemia gene in human embryos
A team led by Junjiu Huang publishes the first peer-reviewed study on CRISPR editing of human embryos, raising ethical concerns. #CRISPR #ethics
Dec 1, 2015 CE
International Summit on Human Gene Editing
Scientists gather in Washington D.C. to discuss ethical and governance issues of human gene editing, recommending caution. #geneediting #ethics
International Summit on Human Gene Editing By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=488192
2016 CE
CRISPR used to create gene drives
Researchers develop CRISPR-based gene drives that can spread genetic modifications through populations, with implications for pest control. #genedrive #CRISPR
CRISPR used to create gene drives By Mariuswalter - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62766590
2017 CE
First in vivo CRISPR therapy in animals
CRISPR is used to treat a genetic disease (e.g., Duchenne muscular dystrophy) in adult mice, demonstrating therapeutic potential. #CRISPR #therapy
Nov 26, 2018 CE
He Jiankui announces gene-edited babies
Chinese researcher He Jiankui claims to have created the first gene-edited human twins, sparking global condemnation and ethical investigations. #CRISPR #controversy
He Jiankui announces gene-edited babies By The He Lab - This image has been extracted from another file, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74768423
Mar 1, 2019 CE
First CRISPR clinical trial in humans (US)
CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals initiate a clinical trial for CTX001 to treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. #clinicaltrial #CRISPR
Oct 7, 2020 CE
Nobel Prize awarded to Doudna and Charpentier
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing CRISPR-Cas9. #Nobel #CRISPR
Dec 1, 2020 CE
First CRISPR-based COVID-19 diagnostic approved
The FDA authorizes a CRISPR-based test for SARS-CoV-2, showcasing the technology's diagnostic potential. #COVID19 #diagnostics
2021 CE
Base editing advances in human trials
Base editing, a refined CRISPR technique, enters clinical trials for treating genetic disorders like progeria and sickle cell disease. #baseediting #CRISPR
Base editing advances in human trials By Mazhar Adli - review article : The CRISPR tool kit for genome editing and beyond DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04252-2, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81074194
2022 CE
First CRISPR therapy approved for sickle cell disease
Exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy) receives approval in the UK and US for treating sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. #CRISPR #therapy
2023 CE
Prime editing used in human cells for complex edits
Prime editing, a 'search-and-replace' technique, shows promise for correcting pathogenic mutations in human cells. #primeediting #genomeediting
2024 CE
Epigenome editing moves to clinical trials
Epigenome editing technologies that alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence enter early-stage clinical trials for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. #epigenetics #geneediting
Epigenome editing moves to clinical trials By Kazi1111 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31204172
