The Big Event

The year 1970 came around and humans had made significant advancements. We discovered the hydrogen bomb, put a man on the moon, and discovered that DNA held our genetic coding. All we knew was that it carried our traits, but what does that matter? The more that we know about the molecules in our body, the more advancements we can make. So, scientists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen set out to find out how we could manipulate bacteria and enzymes.

COG LOG LAB. "Google*Gregor MENDEL" 07/21/11 via Flickr
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Cohen and Boyer had been working in the lab for hours upon hours testing various chemicals and bacteria in an attempt to modify a bacterium known as E. coli. They essentially wanted to see if they could change the nature of the bacteria, something that they believed could change human existence forever. Nevertheless, they got the bacteria to take a plasmid in to its genetic makeup. This plasmid was put in to the bacteria to resist an antibiotic. They then found an enzyme that would allow them to put a gene in to the plasma to resist another antibiotic.

The two discovered that they could insert genes in to cells, now it was just finding out how to manipulate that. It was now 1973 on a moist and sticky summer day. Boyer and Cohen were working hard to finally prove that genetic cloning was possible. The wet and hot air attracted mosquitos in to the laboratory who squealed and buzzed a high pitch noise in the scientist’s ears in an attempt to divert their attention. However, the high pitch stood no chance over the noise that came next. A blood curling scream that left you deaf and your ears ringing soon filled the laboratory. Boyer and Cohen had just made DNA cloning possible. And so the trouble began.