Gene Editing Innovations history timeline

Discovery of Restriction Enzymes, 1970, CE
Werner Arber, Hamilton Smith, and Daniel Nathans discover enzymes that cut DNA at specific sequences

First Recombinant DNA Molecule Created, 1972, CE
Paul Berg creates the first recombinant DNA by combining DNA from different species

Gene Cloning Developed, 1975, CE
Techniques for cloning and amplifying specific DNA sequences are established

First Genetically Modified Organism, 1974, CE
Creation of the first GMO using recombinant DNA technology

DNA Sequencing Techniques Invented, 1977, CE
Fred Sanger develops rapid DNA sequencing methods for gene analysis

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Invented, 1983, CE
Kary Mullis invents PCR, enabling rapid DNA amplification

Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) Developed, 1990s, CE
Engineered nucleases designed to target specific DNA sequences for gene editing

Homologous Recombination in Mice, 1994, CE
Maria Jasin demonstrates gene targeting in mice using homologous recombination

Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) Developed, 2009, CE
TALENs developed as precise tools for targeted gene editing

CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism Identified, 2007, CE
CRISPR-Cas9 system recognized as a bacterial immune defense mechanism

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Demonstrated, 2012, CE
Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier demonstrate CRISPR-Cas9 as a gene-editing tool

First Clinical Trial Using CRISPR, 2016, CE
Initiation of first CRISPR-Cas9 clinical trial for treating genetic diseases

Prime Editing Developed, 2019, CE
Prime editing introduced as a more precise gene-editing method

First CRISPR-Cas9 Therapy Approved, 2023, CE
UK approves the first CRISPR-Cas9-based therapy for sickle cell disease