Thousands of years ago

People first learn to use bacteria for preparing food, and also employ yeast and fermentation processes to make wine, beer and leavened bread.

1700s
Naturalists begin to identify many kinds of hybrid plants — the offspring of two varieties of plants.

1856
Gregor Mendel begins a meticulous study of specific characteristics found in various plants, which are passed to future plant generations.

1861
Louis Pasteur defines the role of micro-organisms and establishes the science of microbiology.

1900
European botanists use Mendel's Law to improve plant species. This is the beginning of classic selection.

1950
First regeneration of an entire plant from an in vitro culture.

1953
James Watson and Francis Crick discover the double helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA. Proteins are made up of strings of amino acids. The number, order and kind of amino acids determine the property of that protein. DNA holds the information necessary to synthesise the appropriate amino acids . The DNA transmits this hereditary information from one generation to the next. But it wasn't until three decades later that even larger strides occurred in the field. Watson and Crick were to later receive the Nobel Prize for their work.

1970s
The Green Revolution introduces hybrid seeds into food-short Third World countries.

1973
Researchers develop the technique to isolate genes. Specific gene code for specific proteins.

1980s
Scientists discover a mechanism to transfer pieces of genetic information from one organism to another, allowing the expression of desirable traits in the recipient organism. This is called genetic engineering, a process used in biotechnology. Using the technique of "gene splicing" or "recombinant DNA technology" (rDNA), scientists can add new genetic information to form a new protein, which creates traits that protect plants from diseases and pests.

1982
The first commercial application of this technology is used to develop human insulin for diabetes treatment.

1983
The first transgenic plant: a tobacco plant resistant to an antibiotic.

1985
Genetically engineered plants resistant to insects, viruses, and bacteria are field tested for the first time.

1990
The first successful field trial of genetically engineered cotton plants (bt cotton) is conducted.
DEKALB receives the first patent for transformed corn.

1994
The Flavr-Savr tomato, designed to resist rotting, is approved by the FDA for sale in the United States.

1995-1996
Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans, which are resistant to herbicides, and YieldGard Corn, which is immune to corn borer, are approved for sale in the United States.
Bollgard cotton first commercialised in the US.

1996
Posilac bovine somatotropin, designed to increase milk efficiency in dairy cattle, is approved for use in the United States.

1997
Roundup Ready cotton first commercialized in the US.

1998
DEKALB markets the first Roundup Ready corn.
YieldGard® Corn is approved for import into European Union.

1999
President Clinton awards four Monsanto scientists National Medal Of Technology.

2000
Scientists achieve major breakthrough in rice; data to be shared with worldwide research community.

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