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Herbert W. Boyer

American biochemist

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Herbert W. Boyer was an American biochemist who, along with Stanley N. Cohen and Paul Berg, pioneered recombinant DNA technology in the early 1970s. This groundbreaking work involved gene-splicing, where DNA from different species is combined to create new genetic combinations valuable in science, medicine, agriculture, and industry. Boyer and Cohen further developed methods for inserting these recombinant DNA molecules into bacteria, enabling the replication of specific genetic material. Boyer co-founded Genentech, a company that commercialized this technology. His contributions earned him recognition, including a share of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1980.123

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