BGI Milestones of Research, 1999-2019

Founded in 1999, BGI is one of the world’s leading life science and genomics companies. BGI’s mission is to use genomics to benefit mankind and to be a leader in the era of life sciences. BGI follows a genomics development model of “production, study and research.” BGI provides equipment, technical support and solutions for the needs of national economies and people’s livelihoods, such as precision medicine and precision health. BGI is committed to applying its genetic and technological achievements to real world settings in order to realize the dream of trans-omics for a better life.

1997

In 1997 Huanming Yang, JunYu, Jian Wang and others proposed a set of forward-looking strategic ideas on China’s participation in the Human Genome Project (HGP) in ZhangJiaJie, Hunan

  • Yang Huanming. Yu Jun, Wang Jian propose strategic ideas on China’s HGP project in ZhangJiaJie, Hunan

1998

James Watson, former head of the HGP welcomes BGI to the international genome research project, Science, August 21, 1998. September 9, 1999 – BGI (now “BGI Group” or “BGI”) was established for the Human Genome Project

1999

  • BGI established for the China HGP

2000

  • BGI contracts to build 30 MegaBACE 1000s

June 2000 – The Human Genome Project 1% project work framework was completed.

  • HGP 1% project work framework completed
  • Yuan Longping, Zhu Lihuang, Wang Jian sign agreement to develop China’s super hybrid rice genome research
  • President Jian Zemin points out HGP is great scientific project in human history and expresses gratitude to scientists and technicians

2002

  • Science published cover article on framework of the Chinese rice genome work

2003

  • For the first time in BGI, the whole genome sequence of four SARS viruses deciphered

  • BGI donates 300,000 copies of the SARS virus diagnostic kit to the National Atypical Pneumonia Command

2003 BGI donated 300,000 copies of the SARS virus diagnostic kit to the National Atypical Pneumonia Command. Shown is scene of laboratory , 2003

2004

  • Science publishes silkworm genome article

  • Nature publishes chicken genome research in UK
  • BGI FangRui dispatches DNA ID and rescue team to Thailand after Indian Ocean tsunami

 

2005

  • 10% International Human Genome Hap Map Project undertaken by BGI and China Collaboration Group and published in Nature

HAPMAP project publication, 2005

  • Rice Genome Project “fine map” completed

Publication of rice genome “fine map,” 2005

2006

  • First International Symposium on Genomics held in Hangzhou

2007

  • BGI Research established

June 2007 – BGI Research was established.

2008

  • BGI participates in post-disaster reconstruction of the 5/12 Wenchuan Earthquake
  • BGI completes the sequencing of the giant panda genome

2010

  • British Nature publishes the results of the human intestinal genome in cover article

Human intestinal bacteria genome research featured in Nature, 2010

  • Results of the Tibetan Genome and Tibetan Genome Research published in Science

On April 27th, 2010, BGI Americas was founded and set up the head office in Boston, US

 

2011

  • BGI deciphers the pathogen genome of the German E. coli outbreak which is published in New England Journal of Medicine

June 2011 – BGI deciphered the pathogen genome of the German lethal E. coli outbreak and published the research results online the New England Journal of Medicine.

BGI assembly of German E. coli outbreak strain

2012

  • Deadly German E. coli reported

2013

  • Complete Genomics Acquisition

On March 18, 2013, BGI successfully completed the acquisition of Complete Genomics, Inc (formerly NASDAQ: GNOM)

2014

  • The Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology of the Union Military Academy of Military Sciences and BGI develop Ebola nucleic acid detection reagent
  • BGI collaboration completes large scale bird genome project which is published in Science

 

2015

  • BGI releases its first desktop high throughput sequencing system. developed from proprietary technology BGISEQ-500
  • BGI launches another self-developed high throughput desktop sequencing system, BGISEQ-50

BGI Went to Sierra Leone to Help Fight Ebola Virus, 2015

2016

  • CNGB

Chinese Central GeneBank CNGB , 2016

Setting up Herbarium, CNGB ca. 2016

2017

  • Major achievements in yeast genome synthesis project published in cover article in Science
  • BGI Genomics is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange

028.2017 – BGI Genomics (stock code 300676) is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.JPG

  • At the 12th International Symposium on Genomics, BGI releases two high throughput sequencing systems, MGISEQ-2000 and MGISEQ-200

 

2018

  • BGI publishes largest study ever on Chinese genomics in the world’s top academic journal, Cell

BGI Publishes study in Cell, October 4, 2018

  • During the 13th International Genomics Congress BGI releases its latest ultra-high throughput gene sequencer MGISEQ-T7