[1] Kinetin was originally isolated by Carlos O. Miller[2] and Skoog et al.[3] as a compound from autoclaved herring sperm DNA that had cell division-promoting activity.

[citation needed] In 1941, J. van Overbeek (Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht) introduced coconut milk as a new component of nutrient media for callus cultures.

Results yielded from callus cultures showed that its active components stimulate the growth of foreign cells, too.

In 1954 F. Skoog (University of Wisconsin, Madison) developed a technique for the generation and culture of wound tumor tissue from isolated shoot parts of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

[citation needed] The developing callus grows when supplied with yeast extract, coconut milk, or old DNA preparations.