Page 56 - 東華三院辛亥年總理中學（40周年校慶特刊）

Milestones of biology in 40 years
Milestones of biology in 40 years

Biology Ms. Cheung Mei Sze

Year Events
1981 • First successful heart–lung transplant is conducted.
• A 61-year-old retired dentist becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart; he lives for
1982
112 days with the device.
1983 • Kary Mullis discovers polymerase chain reaction.
1984 • First embryo transfer from one woman to another resulting in a live birth.
1985 • DNA is first used as evidence in a criminal case.
1986 • First construction of monoclonal antibody containing parts from mouse and human antibodies.
1987 • A rapist is first to be convicted as a result of DNA fingerprinting.
1988 • Laserphaco Probe is patented as a device for removing cataract lens.
1989 • The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is first identified.
1990 • The Human Genome Project is founded.
• The New Zealand Resource Management Act 1991 comes into effect to promote the sustainable
1991
management of natural and physical resources such as land, air and water.
• Brugada syndrome, a genetic disorder in which the electrical activity within the heart is abnormal, is first
1992
recognized.
• Patients with peptic ulcers are successfully treated with antibiotics, lending strong support to
1993
the discovery that peptic ulcer disease is caused by H. pylori.
1994 • The first gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease is discovered.
1995 • Clinical trials testing the first preventive treatment for sickle cell anaemia is successful.
1996 • Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell, is born.
1997 • Scientists announce that human artificial chromosomes have been created.
1998 • Findings suggest that enzyme can slow aging and cell death (apoptosis).
1999 • Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds comes into force.
• ‘Rough draft’ of the human genome is announced jointly by President of the United States Bill
2000
Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
• The first animal from an endangered species produced by cloning. He dies within 48 hours of a
2001
common dysentery.
2002 • The gene BRAF is shown to be mutated in some human cancers.
2003 • China becomes the first country to approve the commercial production of a gene therapy.
• It is suggested that trees have a theoretical maximum height of 130 m (426 ft) before gravity restricts
2004
their growth.
2005 • The world’s first partial face transplant on a living human is performed.
2006 • A success in transplanting the first laboratory-grown organs, bladders, into human patients.
2007 • Stem cell transplant is carried out to cure HIV/AIDS.
• Hormonal therapy and external beam radiation therapy can slow cancer growth by as much as eight
2008
years – especially the development of bone metastases.

DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing

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