Milestones
The Genome Institute is at the cutting edge of genome research. Over the years, The Genome Institute has helped shape the future of sequencing to drive scientific discovery.
| 2011: | Large-scale genomic analysis of ovarian cancer published. |
| Two studies published showing use of whole genome sequencing as a diagnostic tool in two cancer cases. | |
| The genomes of 50 breast cancer patients are decoded. | |
| First mouse cancer genome sequenced. | |
| Trichinella spiralis parasitic nematode sequenced. | |
| Leaf-cutter ant genome sequenced. |
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| The completed orangutan genome is published. | |
| 2010: | A key mutation is discovered that helps predict poor outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) |
| 1,000 Genomes pilot phase complete. | |
| Discovery of retinitis pigmentosa mutations. | |
| First human microbiome reference genomes sequenced. | |
| Western clawed frog Xenopus tropicalis sequenced. | |
| Breast cancer secondary tumor genome variations discovered. | |
| Zebra finch genome is published. | |
| Human and chimp Y chromosome sequence comparison published. | |
| Draft sequence of the orangutan is completed. | |
| $14 million ARRA (stimulus) grant awarded to expand The Genome Institute’s data center. | |
| The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital–Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project is announced. | |
| 2009: | Washington University Cancer Genome Initiative is announced. |
| The Genome Institute is awarded $16 million for a 4-year project to examine the human microbiome. | |
| The completed maize genome is published. | |
| Second acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient’s whole genome sequence is released and reveals a clinically important mutation. | |
| 2008: | Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) genome — the first genome sequence from a cancer patient — is published. |
| Analysis of brain cancer genes is the first publication for The Cancer Genome Atlas. | |
| First analysis of lung cancer gene mutations is published. | |
| Platypus genome sequence is published. | |
| State-of-the-art data center at The Genome Institute opens. | |
| International consortium announces the 1,000 Genomes Project. | |
| 2007: | First phase of the Human Microbiome Project begins. |
| Initial orangutan and marmoset genome assemblies are completed. | |
| Novel lung cancer drug targets discovered. | |
| 2006: | Mouse genome is completed. |
| Draft Rhesus macaque genome is released. | |
| Primer D, a key human re-sequencing tool, is launched. | |
| 2005: | Chimpanzee draft genome — with a sequence 96% identical to humans — is published. |
| The Cancer Genome Atlas is launched by the NCI and the NHGRI. | |
| Human chromosomes 2 and 4, which contain a number of key disease-related genes, are published. | |
| 2004: | Chicken genome draft sequence — the first bird genome to be sequenced — is released. |
| The completed human genome is published. | |
| EGFR mutation drug targets are found in certain types of lung cancer. | |
| 2003: | The Human Genome Project is completed — two years ahead of schedule. |
| Draft sequence of the chimpanzee genome and its comparison with the human genome is released to the public. | |
| SARS virus is sequenced in less than a week. | |
| C. briggsae genome is completed. | |
| 2002: | Mouse genome draft sequence is completed |
| Human chromosome 7 is fully sequenced. | |
| 2001: | The entire human Y chromosome sequence is completed. |
| 2000: | Working draft of the human genome sequence is completed, covering 85% of the entire genome. |
| Arabidopsis thaliana plant sequence is finished. | |
| 1999: | The Genome Institute is selected by the NIH as one of only three US sites to press the Human Genome Project toward early completion. |
| The institute maps the first genome of a plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. | |
| 1998: | C. elegans genome is completed — the first ever multicellular organism to be sequenced. |
| 1997: | The human X chromosome sequence map is complete |
| 1996: | Washington University is part of an international collaboration that announces the completed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) sequence. |
| 1995: | Collaboration with Howard Hughes Medical Institute on a mouse Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) project begins. |
| 1994: | Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. on a human Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) project begins. |
| Genome Institute scientists publish the first chromosome (chromosome VIII) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast). | |
| 1993: | The Genome Institute (then the Genome Sequencing Center) is established as the first National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded large-scale sequencing center. |
| 1992: | Work is done on improving DNA sequencing technology. |
| 1 million base pairs of the C. elegans genome are sequenced — the longest DNA sequence ever. | |
| 1991: | Sequencing continues on C. elegans, elucidating multiple genetic and functional pathways. |
| 1990: | The Human Genome Project is launched. It begins with C. elegans (roundworm) sequencing, initiated by Richard Wilson and Robert Waterston at Washington University School of Medicine. |
Sequencing Machines Used by The Genome Institute:
| 2011: | Ion Torrent Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) |
| 2010: | Pacific Biosciences PacBio RS System |
| Illumina HiSeq 2000 Genome Analyzer | |
| 2009: | Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx |
| 2005: | Roche 454 GS20 Sequencing System |
| 2002: | Applied Biosystems 3730 DNA Analyzer |
| 1999: | Applied Biosystems PRISM ® 3700 DNA Analyzer |
| 1995: | Applied Biosystems PRISM ® 377 DNA Sequencer |
| 1993: | Applied Biosystems 373 DNA Sequencer |
