Splicing and introns discovered by Sharp, Roberts and others. DNA polymorphisms described and used for in utero diagnosis of thallasemia and sickle cell disease. Transgenic mice introduced. Human growth hormone and insulin produced in bacteria and used clinically. Functional cloning reverses the order of understanding human genetic defects.
Positional cloning leads to isolation of genes for a number of human diseases.
Automated oligonucleotide synthesis and DNA sequencing developed. Physical mapping improves with new electrophoretic techniques, in situ hybridization and yeast artificial chromosomes. First recombinant DNA vaccine is produced in yeast. Rosenberg inroduces genetically engineered lymphocytes into patients, and with Blaese and Anderson carries out first genetic therapy experiment. Development of embryonic stem cell technology for homologous recombination produces gene knock out and transplacement transgenic organisms.