''Particular sections of DNA could be cut by molecules called restriction enzymes.''
(“Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer," Youtube, 27 Feb. 2009)
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen
Catalysts of GMO Technology
("DNA Double Helix," n.d.)
''Our development of DNA cloning methods was an instance of serendipity."
~ Dr. Stanley Cohen, Geneticist and Biochemist (PNAS, Science Sessions Podcasts, 18 Dec. 2023)
Combining Research
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen met in 1972 during a bacterial plasmids conference in Hawaii. Boyer was working on the restriction enzyme that spliced DNA strands. This produced cohesive ends that stuck to other DNA pieces. Cohen was developing a process to isolate specific genes in antibiotic-carrying plasmids (“Herbert Boyer”).
"Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1972" (Jones, Medium, 12 Nov. 2015)
"During that talk along the streets of Honolulu, we began to chat about our research, and I learned at that time of Herb’s work with restriction enzymes, which are proteins that cut DNA at specific locations. I realized in listening to Herb’s presentation that cutting DNA with restriction enzymes would be more effective than cutting them with a kitchen mixer."
~ Dr. Stanley Cohen, Geneticist and Biochemist (PNAS, Science Sessions Podcasts, 18 Dec. 2023)
After the conference, Boyer and Cohen met to discuss plasmids as a vector for cloning DNA segments. They agreed to work together (“Herbert Boyer”).
''Cohen's work with plasmids was the missing piece Boyer was seeking.''
(“Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer," Youtube, 27 Feb. 2009)