Who Invented Genetic Engineering?

If you are wondering who invented genetic engineering, do not be surprised to hear that this controversial area began way long ago in the early 1900s by the works of the Austrian monk and scientist named Gregor Mendel. What his work led to was the establishment of genetics as a scientific field to be studied. From then on, many other scientists followed through and made discoveries.

In 1944, Oswald Avery Colin McLeod and Maclyn McCarty found that genetic information could be found in the DNA. From then on, scientists from all over began to study on DNA and its properties. In 1953, Watson and Crick made a breakthrough when they decoded the structure of the DNA. This was an important finding because understanding the structure allowed for specific alterations to the DNA.

Then in the 1960s, Ian Wilmut had begun developing ways to clone animals from the cells of mammals. Restriction enzyme was later discovered in 1968 by Swiss microbiologist Werner Arber, followed by type II restriction enzymes found in 1969 by American biologist Hamilton Smith.

More research in genetic engineering took place in the 1970s, which focus laid on bacteria and microorganisms. From there, gene isolation and alteration techniques were developed, allowing scientists to pull one gene of a plant to another. It was also found that this could be done with animals, which would create changes to the heredity.

In 1973, a process of slicing DNAs and attaching it to another DNA was developed by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen, which allowed them to make bacteria reproduce. This was used in the production of insulin. Within that decade, scientists were also attempting to slice genes of other organisms of higher forms. The first of such was the insertion of human growth hormone into a mouse, in which made the mouse grow twice its size. In 1986, a virus that was genetically altered was sold as vaccine. In 1987, a conclusion was made that replacing genes from one organism to another would not pose danger to the environment.

Throughout the history of genetic engineering is filled with controversies and debate. While we will never know how the future will be influenced by it, the possibilities it bring is truly remarkable. Things would be different if there was no one who invented genetic engineering.

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