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Biotech & Genetics · Recorded milestone

Genetic code cracked

Recorded year1961

Nirenberg and Matthaei decode the first codon, showing how DNA spells proteins.

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Built on

DNA double helixRecorded · 1953enables

Led to

Recombinant DNARecorded · 1973enables
Chemical DNA synthesisRecorded · 1981enables
Modified mRNARecorded · 2005enables
Portable freeze-dried cell-free biomanufacturingRecorded · 2016influences

Sources & evidence

Additional source

Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.