Timeline
A brief timeline with key dates highlighting the technical breakthroughs associated with the progression of GMOs.
Pure DNA is discovered - 1935
Pure DNA is isolated by Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky, a Russian scientist.
First GMO is approved by FDA - 1982
Human insulin, created by recombinant DNA methods, takes its place on pharmaceutical shelves.
The European Union rules in favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO food products, including animal feed.
Mandatory Labeling - 1997
Monsanto gets in Trouble - 2012
Monsanto is sued by a French farmer who claims he was chemically poisoned from the use of Lasso, a Round-Up product of Monsanto. The farmer's win sets up a legal precedent for future cases.
1865 - Gregor Mendel publishes Pea Experiment Results
Gregor Mendel conducted an experiment involving over 28,000 pea plants. From this experiment, Mendel explained his findings with two heredity laws: The Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment. Because of his findings, Mendel is known as the "Father of Genetics".
1973 - Recombinant DNA is created
Professor Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen from Stanford discover a method of inserting viral DNA into bacterial DNA.
1994 - First GMO in Grocery Stores
The Flavr Savr tomato is approved for sale in grocery stores. The tomato is genetically engineered to have a longer shelf-life than traditional tomatoes.
2003 - GMO-Resistant Pests
Caterpillars were found eating Bt cotton crops in the US. It turns out, the bugs adapted to the the toxins produced by the crops and were now Bt-toxin-resistant.
