Paul Berg was an American biochemist whose work in gene splicing helped lay the foundations for the biotech industry.
- Died: February 15, 2023 (Who else died on February 15?)
- Details of death: Died at 96 at his home in Stanford, CA.
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Genetic pioneer
Born on June 30, 1926 in Brooklyn, Berg served in World War II before pursuing his Ph.D. at Western Reserve University in Ohio. In 1959, he accepted a research position at Stanford University, where he spent the remainder of his career. As he and others discovered more about the nature of DNA, Berg became intrigued by the possibility of transferring genetic information from one living organism to another.
In 1971, he made history when he successfully combined the genes from one virus into another. This breakthrough, the first recombinant DNA, or rDNA, became the foundation for decades of biotech breakthroughs, including genetically-modified crops, new kinds of insulin, and the coronavirus monoclonal antibody treatments and vaccine.
In 1980, Berg’s pioneering recombinant techniques earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Additional awards included the Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry in 1959, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award in 1980 and the National Medal of Science in 1983.
Conscientious research
Berg was celebrated for his commitment to ethics in science. He never patented his own findings, allowing pharmaceutical companies and other researchers to forward the work he started. Once medical ethicists and public health officials raised alarms about the possible risks of gene manipulation, Berg paused his research and, in 1975, led an international conference to adopt rDNA safety protocols. The historical accord represented the first time scientists had ever gathered to write regulations for their own research.
In 2004, Berg was among was one of 20 Nobel laureates who signed an open letter asserting that the Bush administration was under- or mis-representing scientific evidence to support policy decisions regarding the environment and the Iraq war.
Notable quote
“You did science because you loved it.” —quoted in the Washington Post
Tributes to Paul Berg
Full obituary: The Washington Post
