Cross-fertilisation in corn discovered.

Planting of high-yield wheat varieties (later known as ‘Green Revolution‘ grains) begins in Mexico.

Dr Kary Mullis invents the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), used to multiply DNA sequences.

At the Waite Institute in Adelaide, scientists genetically modify a type of soil bacteria that causes crown gall (a disease that damages the roots of stone fruits). They remove the disease-causing gene and replace it with a gene that protects the plant from crown gall. The GM bacteria are successfully tested on almond seedlings.

In the UK, genes are added to potato plants to make them produce more protein and increase their nutritional value. Research into other foods included removing allergy-causing proteins from peanuts.

The first food products modified by biotechnology, an enzyme for cheese production and a yeast for baking, are approved in the USA and UK, respectively. GenPharm International creates the first GM dairy cow for production of human milk proteins for infant formula.

The first genetically engineered food product, the FlavrSavr® tomato, receives US Food and Drug Administration approval.

Australian Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (GMAC) allows unrestricted, commercial release of a GM blue carnation in Australia.

40 million hectares of GM crops are planted globally: predominantly soy, cotton, canola and corn.

Arabidopsis thaliana becomes the first entire plant genome to be sequenced. ‘Golden rice‘, a genetically modified variety with genes added which produce a vitamin A precursor, is created.

The genetic code of fruit fly Drosophila is published. Drosophila is the ‘lab rat’ of the genetics world and is used in experiments to investigate genes and gene function.

The Australian Federal Government passes the Gene Technology Act in December to regulate the research, use and release of GMOs in Australia.

The human genome is sequenced in draft form and announced jointly by the private company Celera Genomics and a public consortium comprising the US National Institute of Health, Sanger Institute UK and other international research teams.

A single gene from Arabidopsis is inserted into tomato plants to create the first crop able to grow in salty water and soil.

The Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth) takes effect from 21 June. In July GMAC becomes the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee.

First cat cloned, called 'Carbon Copy' or CC for short.

Researchers sequence the DNA of rice, the main food source for two-thirds of the world's population. It is the first crop plant to have its genome decoded.

Dolly is put down on 14 February 2003 after it is determined she is suffering from a progressive lung disease. She is subsequently prepared and placed on display in the Scottish National Museum.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator approves commercial release of GM cotton in Australia.

Australia passes two pieces of federal legislation to regulate cloning and embryonic stem cell research. The first, the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002, (Cth), outlaws any form of human cloning, whether it be to generate tissues (somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning) or a new human being (reproductive cloning). The second, the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Cth), allows researchers to access surplus human embryos (to obtain stem cells, under strict conditions.

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator approves commercial release of herbicide tolerant GM canola crops.

UK approves its first commercial biotech crop in eight years, a GM herbicide-resistant corn used for cattle feed.

US Environmental Protection Agency approves the first GM rootworm-resistant corn.

The banteng, an endangered species of cattle, is cloned for the first time in the USA. Other cloning firsts include donkeys, horses and deer.

Japanese researchers develop a biotech decaffeinated coffee bean.

In Australia, despite regulatory approval for GM canola, most state governments place moratoria on growing GM canola in response to consumer concerns.

Australian researchers use gene mapping techniques to identify genes for tenderness and toughness in beef, allowing breeders to select stocks containing the ‘tender‘ gene.

CSIRO develops a test to distinguish between different strains or forms of the avian flu virus, and to provide early warning of the emergence of potentially lethal strains in chicken farms.

First GM crops approved for planting in Germany.

USA researchers test GM drought-resistant tomatoes, salt-tolerant oats, and high-calcium potatotes.

Herbicide-tolerant GM corn approved for use as food in Australia.

Cow genome sequence published.

US researchers test flood-tolerant rice, and identify a gene that increases the protein, iron, and zinc content of wheat kernels.

GM rice approved for human consumption in the US.

Herbicide-tolerant GM alfalfa grown in the US.

GM grape vines tested in South Africa.

An Australian report states that GM crops can be safely grown and marketed alongside conventional crops.

Mould-resistant tomoatoes developed in the Netherlands.

European Food Safety Authority concludes that antibiotic resistance marker genes in GM plants do not pose a relevant risk to human or animal health or to the environment.

GM pest-resistant eggplant developed by Indian researchers is trialled in the phillipines.

High-sucrose GM sugarcane trialled in Brazil.

Scottich researchers genetically modify chickens to lay eggs capable of producing drugs that fight cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Australian researchers develop plants containing high levels of an unusual fatty acid (UFA), which is usually sourced from petrochemicals to produce plastics, paints and cosmetics.

GM canola approved for commercial release in NSW.

Japanese researchers successfully develop the world's first GM blue rose.

Third generation GM crops may have properties like salt tolerance and drought resistance, or produce pharmaceutical products, oral vaccines, and specialty products such as plastic starter chemicals to create bioplastics.