Event

Comment

Reference

1561

Fallopian Tubes Described.

First correct anatomical description of the Fallopian tube: G. Fallopius

1566

Fallopian Tubes/Ovaries Described.

Gabrielis Fallopius, under Andreas Vesalius, describes the fallopian tubes as extending from the uterus to the ovaries and appearing like a trumpet.

1651

First suggestion all organism come from an egg

Harvey book promotes the concept that all organism are derieved from an egg

1671

The uterus and ovaries are described

Swammerdam submits to the Royal Society illustrations of the uterus and ovary

1672

de Graaf Defines the Fallopian tubes

Reinier de Graaf defines the function of the Fallopian tubes correctly as carrrying the products of the ovary to the uterus.

1677

Spermatozoa are first seen

Leeuwenhoek wrote to the Royal Society describing spermatozoa

1768

Theory of spontaneous generation is disproved.

1768 Italian physiologist Lazzaro Spallanzani demonstrates that the theory of spontaneous generation is incorrect by showing that micro-organisms do not appear in meat broth sealed inside tightly closed jars that have been boiled for 30 minutes.

1770

The first documented application of AI in human

The first documented application of AI in human was done in London in the 1770s by John Hunter, which has been called in medical history the `the founder of scientific surgery`

1770

Spallanzini decribes early frog IVF

Spallanzini (1729-1799) decribes that frog oocytes only develop into tadpoles after contact with semen.

1770

Filtration removes frog sperm fertility

Spallanzani reported that filtration of semen, heat and mixing with spirts, vinegar and salts remove the fertilising ability of frog semen

1779

The role of semen in fertilisation described.

1779 Lazzaro Spallanzani describes the role of semen in fertilisation, and shows that sperm have to make physical contact with the egg for fertilisation to take place.

1800

Spermatozoa identified in the testis

Work by Jean-Luis Prevost & Jean-baptists Dumas spermatozoa in the early 1800`swere found in the testis of many animal species and that spermatozoa must be produced in the testis.

1827

Spermatozoa first mentioned.

The term spermatozoa was first used by von Baer

1827

The human egg is first described

Von Baer described the human egg for the first time

1834

The movement of the ovum is described,

Gabriel Gustav Valentin (born of German and Swiss parents in Poland) and Jan Purkinje (from Czechoslovakia) discover that the ovum is moved through the oviduct by cilia.

1835

Owen describes sperm as parasites

Richard Owens reflected the common views at the time that spermatozoa were merely parasites.

1841

von Kolliker describes sperm as cells

Swiss Albert von Kolliker describes spermatozoa as motile autologous cells that develop from testicular cells by histogenesis (from Clarke)

1850

Spallanzani`s experiments confirmed

Prevost & Dumas confirm Spallanzini`s filtration experiments confirming filtration removed spermatozoa from semen.

1850

Motile sperm required for fertilisation

In the mid 1800s, Prevost & Dumas demonstrate motile spermatozoa required for fertilisation of frog oocytes.

1852

Fertilsiation observed in Ascaris

Henry Nelson reports observing the entry of a single motile spermatozoon into the transparent ovule - `the first in which the act of the penetration of the speramtozoa into the ovum has been seen and clearly established

1853

Fertilisation observed in amphibians

George Nelson reports seeing fertilsation in amphibians.

1857

Gregor Mendel studies on heredity.

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, begins investigating variation, heredity and evolution in plants in his monastery garden.

1863

First reports of post coital test.

Marion Sims reported his findings of postcoital tests and 55 inseminations in the mid 1800s. Only one pregnancy occurred but this could be explained by the fact that he believed that ovulation occurred during menstruation.

1866

Mendel publishes his work on heredity.

Mendel publishes his work on heredity. It contains detailed descriptions of huge numbers of experiments which he subjects to statistical analysis. Despite its rigorous approach, Mendel`s work is ignored for the next 34 years.

1871

Charles Darwin publishes The Descent of Man

Charles Darwin publishes his book The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex in which he looks at evidence for the evolution of humans and sexual selection.

1875

Fertilisation seen in mammals

Edouard van Bebeden (1875) and Oscar Hertwig (1876) report observing fertilisation in mammals.

1878

Realisation of role of sperm and eggs

Understanding that fertilisation requires the fusion of one sperm with one egg: Hertwik (sea urchin), Van Beneden (rabbit) & Fol (starfish

1879

Fertilisation and pronucleus seen in starfish

Ernst Haeckel reports seeing the penetration and fertilisation leading to pronucleus formation in the starfish

1879

Chromosome reduction proposed in Ascaris

van Benden describes the reduction in chromosome number in the gametes of Ascaris.

1883

Chromosomes inheritance proposed.

van Benden proposes chromosomes muts play a part in the physical vechile of inheritance

1884

Egg described as a cell.

It is shown for the first time that the egg is a cell, and that all cells in an organism came from divisions of the original egg cell.

1890

First embryo transfer

1890 First embryo transfer (in rabbit): Heape

1899

The first attempts to develop AI Methodology.

In 1899 the first attempts to develop practical methods for artificial insemination were described by Ilya Ivanovich Ivanov (Russia, 1870-1932).

1909

The term `gene` uses for the first time.

The terms "gene", "genotype" and "phenotype" are used for the first time

1909

First suggestion on the role of the pituitary

Work by Crow, Cushing and Homans first suggested a role of the pituitary in the regualtion of the gonads.

1912

First culture of mammalian embryos

1912 First culture of mammalian embryos: Brachet

1921

Ilya Ivanov perfected artificial insemination

Around the start of the 20th century, Ilya Ivanov perfected artificial insemination and its practical usage for horse breeding. He proved that this technology allows one stallion to fertilize up to 500 mares (cf Igor KATKOV)

1927

Early work on the role of the pituitary

Zondeck and Ascheim suggets that implantation of the pituitary evoked rapid development of sexual puberty in immature animals

1929

FSH, LH and hCG defined

Smith et.al involved in the discovery of FSH and LH, later hCG and PMSG

1930

First experiments on IVF

1930 First experiments on IVF (rabbits): Pincus - [Bolton et al 2014]

1930

The maturation of human oocytes described

Gregory Pincus describes the maturation of rabbit and then human oocytes in vitro

1932

Publication of Brave New World

1932 Publication of Brave New World: A Huxley [Bolton et al 2014]

1944

First attempt at IVF using human oocytes

1944 First attempt at IVF using human oocytes: Rock & Menkin [Bolton et al 2014]

1949

First Culture medium

1949 Culture medium in which 8-cell mouse embryos developed to blastocysts: J Hammond Jr [Bolton et al 2014]

1949

Sir JohnHammond grows mouse embryos

Grew mouse 8 cells to blastocysts in salt solution supplemented with egg yolk and albumin.

1949

Cryopreservation of spermatozoa

Chris Polge describes the vitrification and cryorecovery of ram spermatozoa using glycerol as the cryoprotectant.

1951

Capacitation in sperm

1951 Capacitation in sperm: Chang; Austin [Bolton et al 2014]

1952

Mitochondia involved in respiration.

1952 James Bonner shows that mitochondria are involved in the reactions of cellular respiration.

1952

hMG defined.

Borth and Lunenfeld identify in the human urine a hormone with biologically active hormone capable of inducing spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized peripubertal rats - called humand menopausal gonadotrophin hMG

1953

First births from frozen human spermatozoa

Bunge and Sherman report the first human births reulsting from cryoperserved spermatozoa.

1954

First in vitro fertilisation in the rabbit

Charles Thibault described the fertilisation of rabbit oocytes in vitro and the development of pronuclei.

1958

Transfer of cultured mouse blastocyst

1958 Transfer of cultured mouse blastocyst to the uterus of another female followed by birth of live young: McLaren & Biggers [Bolton et al 2014]

1959

Unequivocal demonstration of IVF

1959 Unequivocal demonstration of IVF in the rabbit: Chang [Bolton et al 2014]

1959

Fertilisation in vitro and live birth

M.C.Chang from the Worcester Foundation achieved fertilisation of rabbit in vitro and the birth of live young to a surrogate mother of a different strain.

1969

First human oocyte fertilisation in vitro

1969 Demonstration of human oocyte fertilisation in vitro: Edwards, Bavister & Steptoe. [Bolton et al 2014]

1972

Cryopreservation of mouse embryos

Davd Whitingham reported the the successful cryopreservation of mouse embryos.

1976

First human pregnancy (ectopic)

1976 First human pregnancy (ectopic) after IVF and embryo transfer: Steptoe & Edwards. Bolton et al 2014]

1978

Worlds first test tube baby was born.

Louise Brown is born

1980

First IVF birth in Australia

Candice Reed was born in Melbourne from a team of Ian Johnston, Carl Wood, Alex Lopata and Alan Trounson.

1981

First IVF birth in the USA

Elizabeth Carr was born in Norfolk Medical School headed by Dr Georgeanna Jones and Howard Jones and Lucinda Veeck

1983

Use of frozen sperm in human IVF.

Successful use of human semen cryobanking for in vitro fertilization.

1984

Pregnancy following HRT and oocyte donation.

The establishment and maintenance of pregnancy using in vitro fertilization and embryo donation in a patient with primary ovarian failure

1984

The worlds first frozen embryo pregnancy

Zoe, a 5 1/2 pound infant girl was born in Melbourne at Monash University IVF Proramme.

1984

GIFT Introduced

GIFT (Gamete IntraFallopian Transfer) is developed, a simpler procedure than full in vitro fertilisation

1985

Single spermatozoa and fertilization

In the mid 1800s, Prevost & Dumas proposed a single spermatozoon fertilised a single oocyte.

1986

First birth from a frozen oocyte

Australia reported the world`s first pregnancy using frozen oocytes in 1984 - see Chen C. (1986) "Pregnancy after human oocyte cryopreservation". Lancet 1 (8486): 884-886

1987

The worlds oldest egg discovered

A fossilised dinosaur egg is discovered which X-rays show contains the oldest known embryo - 150 million years old.

1991

The first transgenic sheep is born

Tracey, the first transgenic sheep, is born. She has human genes which enable her to produce human protein in her milk. This protein is extracted and can be used to help relieve the symptoms of people suffering from cystic fibrosis and emphysema.

1992

Worlds first ICSI baby

The first ICSI baby was born in Brussels from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) IVF unit.

1993

First pregnancy with recombinant FSH

First established pregnancy and birth after ovarian stimulation with recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone

1996

Dolly the sheep is born

Dolly was the first cloned mammal

1997

Polly the sheep is born.

Polly the sheep born later in the year is the first genetically engineered sheep to be cloned.

1998

IVF achieved in the mouse with dead sperm

At the University of Hawaii, Teruhiko Wakayama and Ryuzo Yanagimachi use freeze dried mouse sperm, which is technically dead, to produce normal living mice offspring. The sperm is rehydrated before use.

1998

Dolly the sheep delivers healthy offspring.

Dolly the sheep gives birth to her own lamb, showing that she is capable of reproducing normally.

1999

Cloned engineered Goats born.

Healthy cloned goats are produced for the first time. Like the earlier sheep, they contain an engineered human gene so that they can make an anti-clotting factor in their milk.

2000

Cloned pigs are born

Cloned pigs are born for the first time in work done by Alan Coleman and his team at PPL Therapeutics in Scotland.

2001

Baby born after CHG

Wilton describes the birth of a child after Comparative Genomic Hybridisation and cryostorage. NEJM 345:1537-1541

2003

Dolly the sheep dies

Dolly the first cloned mammal dies.

2005

First Birth from a frozen donor oocyte

A baby girl, Avery Lee, born December 31, 2005, at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky from the first commercial donor egg bank in the world [see www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=35635]

2007

Embryonic Stem cells from Rhesus Macaque monkeys

Skin fibroblasts from a Macaque rhesus monkey were used to generate 2 viable embryonic stem cell lines by SCNT technology.

2009

Human sperm created from embryonic stem cells

Human sperm have been created using embryonic stem cells for the first time in a scientific development which will lead researchers to a better understanding of the causes of infertility.

2014

Live birth following uterine transplant

The first livebirth after uterus transplantation was reported. This was a proof-of-concept for uterus transplantation as a treatment for uterine factor infertility.

2015

First live birth after ovarian tissue transplant

First report of successful fertility restoration after the graft of ovarian tissue cryopreserved before menarche offers reassuring evidence for the feasibility of the procedure when performed during childhood