1956
Kornberg discovers the enzyme DNA polymerase I, leading to an understanding of how DNA is replicated.
1958
Sickle cell anemia is shown to occur due to a change of a single amino acid. DNA is made in a test tube for the first time.
1959
Systemic fungicides are developed. The steps in protein biosynthesis are delineated.
Also in the 1950s
Discovery of interferons.
First synthetic antibiotic.
1960
Exploiting base pairing, hybrid DNA-RNA molecules are created. Messenger RNA is discovered.
1961
USDA registers first biopesticide: Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt.
1963
New wheat varieties developed by Norman Borlaug increase yields by 70 percent.
1964
The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines starts the Green Revolution with new strainsof rice that double the yield of previous strains if given sufficient fertilizer.
1965
Harris and Watkins successfully fuse mouse and human cells.
1966
The genetic code is cracked, demonstrating that a sequence of three nucleotide bases (a codon) determines each of 20 amino acids. (Two more amino acids have since been discovered.)
Kornberg discovers the enzyme DNA polymerase I, leading to an understanding of how DNA is replicated.
1958
Sickle cell anemia is shown to occur due to a change of a single amino acid. DNA is made in a test tube for the first time.
1959
Systemic fungicides are developed. The steps in protein biosynthesis are delineated.
Also in the 1950s
Discovery of interferons.
First synthetic antibiotic.
1960
Exploiting base pairing, hybrid DNA-RNA molecules are created. Messenger RNA is discovered.
1961
USDA registers first biopesticide: Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt.
1963
New wheat varieties developed by Norman Borlaug increase yields by 70 percent.
1964
The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines starts the Green Revolution with new strainsof rice that double the yield of previous strains if given sufficient fertilizer.
1965
Harris and Watkins successfully fuse mouse and human cells.
1966
The genetic code is cracked, demonstrating that a sequence of three nucleotide bases (a codon) determines each of 20 amino acids. (Two more amino acids have since been discovered.)