1960-1969

Highlights from the '60s

1960

• The Contraceptive Pill is launched
  • The contraceptive pill is often cited as one of the most influential, and controversial, inventions of the last century. It has undoubtedly changed many people's lives     

1961

• Silicon Chips appear
  • Silicon chips are manufactured using a chemical process that has been constantly refined over the past forty years     

1962

• Lycra^® commercialized
  • Lycra^® is used to make a variety of fabrics keep their shape by providing elasticity to the material     

1963

• Valium^®  launched
  • Valium^® is used to treat mild anxiety attacks, as well as to help control epilepsy and alcohol addiction     

1964

• Kevlar^® first synthesized
  • Kevlar^® is a light but strong material used in applications such as bullet proof vests, brake pads and aircraft tyres     

1965

• NutraSweet^®  discovered
  • NutraSweet^® (Aspartame) and other artificial sweeteners are now widely used as an alternative to sugar in drinks and foods     

1966

• First artificial synthesis of insulin
  • The artificial synthesis of insulin has made the lives of diabetics much easier by providing a potentially unlimited source of insulin     

1967

• First synthesis of biologically active DNA in a test tube
  • The synthesis of DNA helped develop techniques for use in the growing molecular biology field     

1968

• Fred Sanger deciphers a 120 base long RNA sequence
  • The techniques used to decipher RNA sequences are the same as used in DNA sequencing and are still in use today in biological research     

1969

• Salbutamol launched under Ventolin^®  name
  • Salbutamol (Ventolin^®) is used to provide relief to sufferers of asthma