Gene-splicing technique discovered, leading to recombinant DNA

In 1971 US biochemist Paul Berg founded the gene-splicing technique which opened the door to the invention of recombinant-DNA technology, for which he shared the 1980 Nobel Prize. [1]  In 1975 he organised the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA, to put safeguards in place as making hazardous microorganisms now became possible.

Berg’s experiment involved splicing a bit of the DNA of the bacterial virus (bacteriophage) known as lambda into the vector, the DNA of simian virus 40 (SV40), of which the DNA of both these viruses occur in closed loops.  Berg’s gene-splicing experiment resulted in the first man-made recombinant DNA (rDNA), as such molecules came to be called.  SV40 promoters have been found to contaminate the vials of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

In 1975 Berg organised the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA ( rDNA), to put safeguards in place as making hazardous microorganisms now became possible, the guidelines were adopted but have “have gradually been diluted and disregarded.” [1]