Timeline of genetically modified organisms

This is a timeline of noteworthy genetically modified organisms created in labs, including genetically modified foods and other transgenic species and products (such as Glofish).

1970–1989

1972- 1973

• Modern genetic engineering began in 1972 when United States Biochemists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen used enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand of DNA in the gap. Both bits of DNA were from the same type of bacteria, but this milestone, the invention of Recombinant DNA technology, offered a window into the previously impossible—the mixing of traits between totally dissimilar organisms.

1976- 1977

• Allan Maxam and Walter Gilbert developed a DNA sequencing method based on chemical modification of DNA and subsequent cleavage at specific bases.^[1]

Although Maxam and Gilbert published their chemical sequencing method two years after the ground-breaking paper of Sanger and Coulson on plus-minus sequencing,^[2] Maxam–Gilbert sequencing rapidly became more popular, since purified DNA could be used directly, while the initial Sanger method required that each read start be cloned for production of single-stranded DNA. However, with the improvement of the chain-termination method (see below), Maxam-Gilbert sequencing has fallen out of favour due to its technical complexity prohibiting its use in standard molecular biology kits, extensive use of hazardous chemicals, and difficulties with scale-up.^[3]

1991–1996

1991

• DNA Plant Technology receives approval from the US Department of Agriculture to field test its Fish tomato^[4] but the plant is never successfully commercialized. The creation of a genetically modified plant, with a fish transgene designed for human consumption galvanizes citizen skepticism towards the emerging technology.^[5]

1994

• The first modern recombinant crop approved for sale in the U.S., in 1994, was the FlavrSavr tomato, which had a longer shelf life. However, higher costs and same bland flavor as conventional tomatoes led to it losing money and disappearing from the shelves.

1996

• In 1996 a developer submitted a data set to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for AquAdvantage Salmon.^[6]

2000–2009

2003

• The first genetically modified fish Glofish is introduced into the market in the U.S.

2004

The first genetically modified blue Rose made in the lab.^[7]

2010–2016

2010

• Monsanto corporation through its Indian subsidiary Mahyco unsuccessfully attempted to introduce Bt brinjal, which was put on hold due to citizen organizing against approval for sale in the country.

• Amflora genetically modified potato was approved for industrial applications in the European Union by the European Commission.

2015

• AquAdvantage salmon, a genetically modified Atlantic salmon, becomes the first genetically modified animal approved to enter the United States food supply.^[8]

References

1. Maxam AM, Gilbert W (February 1977). "A new method for sequencing DNA". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74 (2): 560–4. Bibcode:1977PNAS...74..560M. doi:10.1073/pnas.74.2.560. PMC 392330. PMID 265521.
2. Sanger F. Determination of nucleotide sequences in DNA. Nobel lecture, 8 December 1980.
3. Graziano Pesole; Cecilia Saccone (2003). Handbook of comparative genomics: principles and methodology. New York: Wiley-Liss. p. 133. ISBN 0-471-39128-X.
4. Permit Number 91-079-01 tomato; antifreeze gene; staphylococcal Protein A
5. Pandora's Picnic Basket
6. NAIK, GAUTAM (September 21, 2010). "Gene-Altered Fish Closer to Approval". Wall Street Journal.
7. Demetriou, Danielle (October 31, 2008). "World's first blue roses after 20 years of research". The Daily Telegraph (London).
8. "AQUABOUNTY CLEARED TO SELL SALMON IN USA FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES".