Source Citation​:  
https://www.genome.gov/pages/education/genetictimeline.pdf  
 
Timeline Citation​: 
Genetic Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2018, from  
https://www.genome.gov/pages/education/genetictimeline.pdf 
 
Timeline Events 
● 1911​ - ​Chromosomes carry genes 
○ Description​: Thomas Hunt Morgan and his students studied fruit fly 
chromosomes.  
○ Importance​: The importance of this is it led to the understanding that 
chromosomes carry genes which carry our traits. This then led to the 
discovery genetic linkage and how it correlates to our understanding of 
the various phenotypes seen in humans. The human genome project 
would later expand upon this idea by sequencing the entire genome 
and the many traits within it. 
○ Image source 
● 1975 ​- ​DNA sequencing 
○ Description of the discovery:​ Frederick Sanger, Alan Maxam, and Walter 
Gilbert create the Sanger method of DNA sequencing. This method 
uses dyes that bind to the four nucleic acids present in DNA.  
○ Importance of the discovery:​ This discovery allowed us to analyze DNA 
in a simpler manner. From this we were able to identify the different 
nucleotide combinations that compose various DNA strands with said 
DNA strands being part of the genes that compose our genome. 
○ Image source 
● 1987 - First Human Genetic Map 
○ Description of the discovery: ​ The first detailed map of the variations in 
DNA sequence. This is done by taking a strand of DNA and breaking it 
up with restriction enzymes to better identify & map out specific 
sequences. 
○ Importance of the discovery:​ This map allows geneticists to quickly 
locate the genetic link of certain diseases. This would allow for 
geneticists to have a baseline at which to plot larger genetic systems, 
like the entire human genome.  
○ Image source 
● 1990 ​-​ Human Genome Project 
 ○ Description​: The Department of Energy and the National Institutes of 
Health announced a plan for a 15-year project to sequence the human 
genome.  
○ Importance​: This will eventually result in sequencing all 3.2 billion 
letters of the human genome which will help us identify traits that 
correlate with specific diseases. 
○ Image source