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current topics in biotechnology:
"X-omes and X-omics" > genomics:
Progress in genome sequencing projects

The study of 'modern' genetics can be dated back to the beginning of the twentieth century with the rediscovery of Gregor Mendel's (1822-1884) work " Experiments in Plant Hybridisation" who established basic laws of inheritance.

In the early 1950s, the role of DNA as the carrier of genetic information was widely accepted. In 1953, Watson & Crick elucidated the molecular structure of the DNA molecule.

The relatively short history of genome sequencing began with Frederic Sanger's invention of sequencing in 1977. The first sequenced genomes were from viruses, phages and organelles. In the early 1980's the first genomic data were deposited in public databases. Since then, international sequencing efforts and major developments in sequencing technology and bioinformatics resulted in a rapidly growing number of complete genome sequences.

Fig. 2: Cumulated size (bp) of sequenced genomes as a function of time