1989

• Applied Biosystems and Roche Molecular System introduces the first cloned recombinant Taq DNA polymerase, AmpliTaq® DNA Polymerase
• The journal Science names Taq polymerase as its first “Molecule of the Year”
• PCR enters the mainstream media via an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
• The first use of PCR in linear amplification (or cycle) sequencing occurs

1990

• Applied Biosystems and Perkin Elmer introduce the DNA Thermal Cycler 480 with compressor technology

1993

• Russ Higuchi and his colleagues demonstrate the simultaneous amplification and detection of specific DNA sequences in real time
• Kary B. Mullis receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his invention of PCR

1995

• DNA fingerprinting using PCR becomes accepted in court as reliable forensic evidence, and comes to public attention in the O.J. Simpson trial
• Applied Biosystems sold 30,000 thermal cyclers worldwide

1996

• Bert Vogelstein and his colleagues develop the first digital PCR technique to study DNA in the stools of patients with colorectal cancer
• Applied Biosystems introduces the first commercial real-time PCR instrument, the ABI PRISM® 7700, and to this day continues to innovate real-time PCR with increased scalability, flexibility, and throughput

1998

• An FBI database was put into practice allowing interstate cooperation in linking crimes

2003

• The PCR-based gene synthesis method in primer design is introduced by XinXin Gao and colleagues

2011

• The TaqMan® salmonella enteritidis detection kit has been cleared for sale by the Food and Drug Administration, making it easier to detect salmonella–contaminated eggs before they enter the market

2012

• Life Technologies launches a next generation real-time PCR instrument with maximum throughput and flexibility, QuantStudio™ 12K Flex Real-Time PCR system
• Life Technologies announces a new next generation digital PCR instrument, QuantStudio™ 3D Digital PCR System