We went on to
show that indeed we could do the same thing with eukaryotic DNA. We
were certainly aware of the value of what became known as in vitro
recombination DNA technology or the molecular cloning of DNA. The
simplicity
and value of the technology insured that it would be used
by nearly all the
research labs in the world. Penetration of this
technology into the very core of life and the ease with which DNA
could be investigated and manipulated brought forth the interest of
ethicians, lawyers, zealots of all kinds, the print, electronic media
and one venture capitalist.
While developing plasmid
vectors and teaching numerous visitors about the evolving technology I
received a call from this young venture capitalist, Bob Swanson. He
wanted to know if recombinant DNA technology was ready to be
commercialized. My affirmative answer was based on the convergence of
3 technologies at that time: chemical synthesis of DNA, the technology
that allowed one to sequence DNA, and the technology of recombinant
DNA. It was the combination of these 3 technologies that gave me the
confidence to tell Bob that indeed it was time to put molecular
biology to work.
So along with Art Riggs
and with whom I had collaborated previously, we demonstrated with the
use of some venture capital funds contracted to our institution that
we could chemically synthesize a gene which when recombined in
vitro and transformed into E.coli could synthesize a human hormone
somatostatin. And that was the birth of Genentech.
  
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Winding Your Way Through DNA Resource Book Index
