What: Inoculated a child with a smallpox vaccine

When: 1796

Where: England

Why: Jenner learned that people who had cowpox didn’t catch smallpox. He decided to test his theory by taking viral smallpox, scratching it on the skin of a child. The kid quickly recovered and did not get drastically sick.

How: Doctors all over Europe used this technique and it paved the way for the development of new vaccines to fight other viruses.

citations!

https://www.jenner.ac.uk/about/edward-jenner

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/

What: Described cells through a new and improved microscope

When: 1665

Where: Isle of Wight, England

Why: He changed the design of the old microscope, adding more lenses and a light which allowed him to see specimens easier. The first thing he tested with his microscope was a cork, calling to the similarities it shared with an actual cell.

How: His research pioneered the fields of cell microbiology and microscopy

citations! https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/history-cell-discovering-cell/

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/hooke.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mystery-robert-hooke-portrait

What: the first to observe bacteria and protozoa

When: 1674

Where: Netherlands

Why: Using microscopes he made with single high-quality lenses, Leeuwenhoek was able to isolate bacteria and protozoa from different sources

How: His research helped the field of microscopy

citations!

https://www.vox.com/2016/8/9/12405306/antoni-van-leeuwenhoekhttps://www.vox.com/2016/8/9/12405306/antoni-van-leeuwenhoek

What: Used moldy soybeans to treat boils

When: 500 BC

Where: China

Why: Moldy soybeans and cheese were both used to help treat infected wounds.

How: This helped the advancement of biotechnology because scientists now believe that the fungus that produces penicillin may have been the mold present in the soybean curds.

citations!

https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/history-of-biotechnology-458b8c27-4443-477e-a9ed-3fc6a0190305

https://stacker.com/food-drink/history-fermentation-around-world#:~:text=Beginning%20in%20500%20BCE%2C%20moldy,used%20to%20treat%20infected%20wounds.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmadison.com%2Fcollection_cfb6e99f-facf-5e75-8e63-db202c699276.html&psig=AOvVaw12B-ZuABQn2K_oCBg3Vdm5&ust=1698771406927000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCNjy1OSenoIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

What: Produced insecticide from powdered chrysanthemums

When: AD 100

Where: China

Why: The Chinese used Pyrethrum, which is found in chrysanthemums, to kill off insects. Dried flowers were added to a carrier to help deliver pyrethrins directly onto the insect.

How: Helped the development of the modern fertilizers that we use today.

citations!!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/pyrethrum#:~:text=Pyrethrum%20is%20a%20powerful%2C%20rapidly,is%20a%20manmade%20synthetic%20pyrethroid.

https://www.finegardening.com/article/pyrethrum-based-insecticides-from-chrysanthemums

What: When investigating plants he noticed a structure in plant cells, he called this the nucleus.

When: 1831

Where: Scotland

Why: Before this discovery, researchers were confused about the parts of the cell. Finding the nucleus helped researchers understand the function of plant cells.

How: His extensive research about plant cells helped researchers identify the parts of other cells.

citations!

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Brown-Scottish-botanist

What: Found out how to cure leprosy using the oil from the chaulmoogra fruit’s seeds

When: 1910

Where: University of Hawaiʻi

Why: Before antibiotics, Alice Ball's method was the universally used way to cure leprosy which affected many people. Sadly she wasn't able to recive recognition for her work because it was stollen by one of her male colleagues after she died.

How: This helped the field of biotechnology since the Ball Method was a new and innovative way to cure a disease, many treatments now take inspiration from Ball's research.

citations!

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-trailblazing-black-woman-chemist-who-discovered-a-treatment-for-leprosy-180979772/

What: Beal crossed two different corn types, successfully making a hybrid

When: 1870

Where: Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University)

Why: By crossing corn types, Beal was able to create a larger crop of corn.

How: His discovery allowed for the multiple varieties of corn we now have today. His research is also being used with other plants.

citations!

https://tdaynard.com/2019/10/25/a-brief-history-of-the-hybrid-corn-industry/

https://alumni.msu.edu/stay-informed/alumni-stories/what-william-james-beal-built#:~:text=That%20optimistic%20push%20fueled%20Beal%27s,yields%20of%20corn%20present%20today.

What: Developed a treatment against infant influenza

When: 1939

Where: Baltimore/New York

Why: Her treatment helped reduce the mortality rates of the disease since influenza was a major killer among infants. Through her research, she also found out that some influenza cultures are resistant to antibiotics because of genetic mutations.

How: This helped the field of biotechnology by improving how medications work against illnesses.

citations!

https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/women/profiles

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hattie-Elizabeth-Alexander

What: Discovered penicillin from mold on a petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria

When: 1928

Where: London

Why: Penicillin was the first antibiotic to kill bacteria. This helped immensely in the hospital setting as it allowed patients to recover faster

How: This helped the field of Biotechnology because penicillin is now one of the most commonly used medication in the medical field, and this discovery helped pave the way for new and innovative medicines.

citations!

https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/flemingpenicillin.html#:~:text=In%201928%2C%20at%20St.,number%20of%20deaths%20from%20infection.

https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/how-was-penicillin-developed#:~:text=1928%20to%201929,chemical%20that%20could%20kill%20bacteria.

https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Penicillin_detail1.jpg

What: Scientists have discovered a new antibiotic, Teixobactin, that can treat common bacterial infections.

When: 2010

Where: Northeastern University

Why: Because there is a lack of new drugs on the market, many strains of bacteria have become resistant to medications. This is why Teixobactin is such an important discovery since it will take bacteria a long time to become resistant to this drug.

How: This discovery could pave the way for more antibiotics to be created.

citations!

https://civas.net/en/2015/01/07/first-new-antibiotic-in-30-years-discovered-in-major-breakthrough/#:~:text=The%20first%20new%20antibiotic%20to,be%20available%20within%20five%20years.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4433155/

https://civas.net/cms/assets/uploads/2015/01/penemuan-antibiotik-baru-600x426.jpg

What: Kidney transplant between twins

When: 1954

Where: Boston

Why: This was the first sucessfull transplantation between identical donors which had never been done in the medical feild. The chance for organ rejection is also low since the organ comes from somone who is identical to the recpiant.

How: His work impacted the field of biotechnology since it started more reseach within the field of transplantation.

citations!

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)62883-8/fulltext#:~:text=He%20performed%20the%20first%20human,kidney%20lived%20for%208%20years.

What: Found out that BRCA1, a single gene on chromosome 17, was responsible for breast and ovarian cancer

When: 1990

Where: University of California, Berkley

Why: Her discovery has now made it easier for doctors to screen their patients for mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes to see if they are at risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

How: Her work influenced the field of biotechnology by providing researchers with even more information about how cancer can mutate in our bodies.

citations!

https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/women/profiles

https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/mary-claire-king-1946

What: Gleevec is a medication for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

When: 2001

Where: Switzerland

Why: Gleevec is a gene-targeted drug that works by slowing or stopping the growth of certain cancer cells. Because the medication is so precise it creates better outcomes for patients.

How: This drug is the first of its kind to be approved by the FDA, creating a pathway for even more drugs like it to enter the marketplace for patients.

citations!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjN8IGbwqGCAxVFAjQIHT-RDa8QFnoECBEQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.drugs.com%2Fmedical-answers%2Fgleevec-imatinib-work-3556556%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DGleevec%252C%2520known%2520generically%2520as%2520imatinib%2C)%252C%2520growth%252C%2520and%2520division.&usg=AOvVaw3Mt6ZY6Rg11AM0zMbNEFEl&opi=89978449

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjN8IGbwqGCAxVFAjQIHT-RDa8QFnoECB8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicalnewstoday.com%2Farticles%2Fdrugs-gleevec-how-it-works&usg=AOvVaw1_rvZEWQT--oryQaw9e71C&opi=89978449

What: Created malaria resistant Mosquitos using CRISPR

When: 2010

Where: University of Arizona

Why: Malaria is a deadly illness that mainly affects pregnant women. By eliminating malaria from mosquitos, who are the main carriers of the disease, it would help lower mortality rates.

How: This helped improve the field of biotechnology by creating new ways to stop the spread of illnesses.

citations!

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/malaria-proof-mosquito-created-scientists/story?id=11179900#:~:text=July%2017%2C%202010—,Public%20Library%20of%20Science%20Pathogens.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/07/20/1188631213/mosquitoes-spread-malaria-these-researchers-want-them-to-fight-it-instead#:~:text=The%20malaria%20parasite%20doesn%27t,systems%20do%20fight%20human%20malaria.

https://www.genengnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20130819malaria1052188157-scaled.jpg