About This Process:

The first Recombinant DNA molecules were made by Paul Berg at Stanford University in 1972. In 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen created the first recombinant DNA organisms. The technique shown above more closely resembles more modern methods used to add human genes to larger animals. This is genetic manipulation is done to get animals to produce substances, such as human proteins, that are difficult and expensive to create synthetically, and are extremely beneficial to medicine and science. Today, genes are individually inserted into embryo cells. This process is unreliable, and often results in an embryo not taking up the injected genes. Cloning is viewed as the perfect way to mass reproduce genetically altered organisms. Once a cell's DNA has been successfully altered to contain desired genes, identical organisms can be cloned from this cell. In 1997, Ian Wilmut created Polly, a genetically enhanced clone derived from a cell altered to contain human genes. For more information see the technical summary.

Timeline: First Recombinant DNA Molecules (1972)
Timeline: First Recombinant DNA Organisms (1973)
Timeline: The Birth of Polly (1997)
Technique: Recombinant DNA
Profile: Paul Berg
Profile: Stanley Cohen
Profile: Herbert Boyer

[ Home ] [ The Details ] [ Reactions ] [ Interactions ] [ About Site ]