Notable Figures in Biotechnology History

Hippocrates Born in Greece in 460 B.C. Traveled the world and learned about medicine Known as the “Father of Medicine” Developed the Hippocratic Oath Taken today before physicians begin medical practice

Louis Pasteur Born in France in 1822 Research in Physics and Chemistry Founded the science of microbiology Invented the process of pasteurization Used to sterilize milk Created the rabies vaccine

Gregor Mendel Born in 1822 in Austria Sweet Pea Plants Born in 1822 in Austria Experimented with pea plants, trying to develop new color variations (hybrids) Learned that there are dominant and recessive characteristics “Father of genetics” Discovered that genes are passed from parent to offspring

Rosalind Franklin Born in London in 1920 Made early discoveries in DNA structure

James Watson and Francis Crick James Watson (b. 1928) at left Francis Crick (1916-2004) at right Credited with discovery of DNA structure Awarded Nobel Prize in 1953 Discovered that DNA carries life’s hereditary information

Stanley Cohen & Herbert Boyer Scientists Met at a conference Invented technique for DNA cloning in 1973 Birth of genetic engineering Transfer genes between species Founded Genentech Stanley Cohen Herbert Boyer

Dr. Ben Carson Earned scholarship to Yale Became a neurosurgeon Grew up in inner-city Detroit & Boston Struggled with his grades, self esteem, and behavior Turned himself around in high school Earned scholarship to Yale Became a neurosurgeon 1st to successfully separate Siamese twins

Dr. Norman Borlaug Born in Iowa Grew up on a farm Worked as an agricultural researcher “Father of the Green Revolution” Fought to end starvation & world hunger 1914-2009

Dr. Ian Wilmut Born in England in 1945 First cloned adult mammal Dolly the sheep Works with stem cells to treat diabetes & Parkinson’s Disease