1990
Mary-Claire King of the University of California at Berkeley discovers the location of BRCA1 gene.
1994
The complete sequence of BRCA1 gene is identified, including specific mutations related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, by a collaborative effort led by Mark Skolnick at the University of Utah Medical Center.
1994
Myriad Genetics—a company founded by University of Utah scientists—files for patent on BRCA1.
1995
The location of the BRCA2 gene is discovered in a collaborative effort led by a team from Institute of Cancer Research, UK.
1995
The most common BRCA1 mutation is traced back to families of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Subsequently, additional two mutations—one in BRCA1 and one in BRCA2—are traced to Ashkenazi Jews.
1996
The complete sequence of the BRCA2 gene is identified by Myriad Genetics, and the role of the BRCA2 gene is identified in male breast cancer. Myriad Genetics files BRCA2 patent.
1996
BRACAnalysis®, the first commercial test for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, becomes commercially available from Myriad Genetics.
1997
The U.S. Patent Office issues a patent for BRCA1 to Myriad Genetics.
1997
The BRCA2 mutation is linked to prostate cancer.
1998
The U.S. Patent Office issues BRCA2 patent to Myriad Genetics.
1998
Study shows that reoccurrence of breast cancer in patients with BRCA1 in the opposite breast was four to five times as frequent compared to breast cancer survivors lacking the BRCA1 mutation.
1999
Researchers demonstrate that surgical removal of both ovaries is associated with reduced risk for breast cancer in women with mutations in BRCA1.
2000
Early treatment with Tamoxifen is demonstrated to be effective at reducing the risk for re-occurrence of breast cancer in the opposite breast in women with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
2001
Bilateral total mastectomy is demonstrated to substantially reduce the incidence of breast cancer among women with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
2004
Researchers demonstrate that birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
2013
Angelina Jolie reveals that she had a double mastectomy after learning that she had a hereditary mutation in the BRCA1 gene.
2013
The first prostatectomy in direct response to a genetic test is performed on a man who had a mutation in BRCA2.
2013
Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics is argued in the Supreme Court of the United States. SCOTUS declares Myriad’s patents on isolated genes invalid.