Feeding the World Through Biotechnology
The idea of genetically modified foods comes from the discoveries that not only affect GMO but as well as our understanding of biology. The discoveries that help us understand the makeup of life ranges from learning about cells to studies of recombinant DNA.
The idea of genetically modified foods comes from the discoveries that not only affect GMO but as well as our understanding of biology. The discoveries that help us understand the makeup of life ranges from learning about cells to studies of recombinant DNA.
Where the Process of GMO Crops Originated
1840s-1860s
- 1844: By identifing DNA as the carrier of molecular information, Oswald Avery linked DNA and molecular information (1)
- 1859: In the book, The Origin of Species, plubished by Charles Darwin, it explains evolution of species(2)
- 1865: Gregor Mendel crossed bred peas which became the foundation of genetics (1)
- 1868: Nucelin, a part of DNA is discovered by Friedrich Meischer (2)
1950s-1970s
- 1953: James Watson and Francis Crick descibe the structure of DNA to be a double helix (1)
- 1973: Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer creates a technique to chemically cut and splice DNA (1). This technique results in recombinant DNA (4)
-1976: The National Institutes of Health in the United States creates guidelines for research in genetic modification (2)
1980s
-1983: A technique that enables scientists to reproduce parts of DNA quicker called polymerase chain reaction is created by Kary Mullis (2)
-1980: First GMO patent was issued through a supreme court of a 5 to 4 ruling. Allowing a bacterium to consume oil that would help oil spills everywhere (3)
-1982: Insulin, which is produced through genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, is the first genetically modified drug approved by the FDA (3)
- Three groups of scientists create genetically modified crops by inserting bacterial genes into plants and one group of scientists creates G.M. crops by insterting a gene from a bean plant into a sunflower plant (2)
1990s
- 1994: The U.S. FDA approves genetically modified tomatoes, the Flavr Savr tomatoes, to be sold at grocery stores, but was later withdrawn from the market as a result of poor shelf life. (5)
-1996: Scientists at the University of Nebraska reach a conclusion that genetically engineering by cross-species increase the risk of allergic reaction (5)
- 1997: All GMO food products and animal feed genetically modified crops must be labled in the European Union (3)
- 1999: Genetically engineered seed are planted in over 100 million acres (3)
2000s
- 2003: On GMO Bt cotton crops were Bt-toxin-resistant caterpiller-cum-mouth that were consuming the plant. As a result, over time the bugs became immune to the toxin produced by the plants (3)
- 2008: 80% of fields in the U.S. were planted with GMO Corn (1)
- 2014: Roundup Ready line of genetically engineered seed had a patent from Monstanto which ended (3)
