DNA the story of life. Pt.2, Playing God.

The programme begins with the work of Herb Boyer and Stan Cohen, the first scientists to transfer DNA from one species to another. Discovery of the enzyme that locked onto DNA and severed the strand allowed scientists to work with recombinant DNA but ethical concerns quickly arose as to what might be created. Until the 1970s no living organisms had been created in a laboratory and scientists clashed over whether this should be allowed. New laboratory containment rules were devised to prevent the escape of any organisms. The business world was excited at the possibilities of the new technology but with Prof. Ananda Chakrabarty's design of a bacterium to consume oil spills, patenting arguments arose. A patent for this invention was granted by the US Patent Office, increasing the excitement of speculators who anticipated making fortunes through this new technology. In 1976 Herb Boyer formed the biotechnology company Genentech, which succeeded in building the gene for the manufacture of synthetic insulin but science's academic establishment was still uneasy about gene manufacture and Boyer was denied a Nobel Prize for his breakthrough. Food was another area targeted by biotechnology; Rob Horsch was employed by the seed company Monsanto and he was successful in using agrobacteria to deliver new genes to plants. In 1987 tomatoes were successfully treated with insect resistant genes to ensure that they arrived in the shops in good condition. Protests arose about the possible effects on the environment of genetically modified crops, as well as the prospect of a small number of corporations controlling the entire seed supply.