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How did Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen create the first genetically modified organism in 1973?

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Rows of genetically modified barley plants grow in an outdoor test plot in Germany, with a yellow marker labeled 3 and protective netting overhead. — genetically modified organism Genetically modified crops are assessed for their impact on environmental factors such as soil quality.

In 1973, biochemists Herbert W. Boyer and Stanley N. Cohen created the first genetically modified organism by utilizing recombinant DNA technology.12

Their breakthrough relied on the use of type II restriction enzymes, which act as molecular scissors capable of cleaving DNA at specific, predictable nucleotide sequences. Building on the foundational work of researchers like Werner Arber and Hamilton O. Smith, Boyer and Cohen developed methods to cut DNA into fragments and rejoin them to form new, recombinant molecules.13

The pair successfully inserted these recombinant DNA molecules—specifically engineered plasmids—into E. coli bacteria. Once inside the host bacteria, the foreign DNA was able to replicate as the organisms reproduced, effectively creating a new genetic lineage. This pioneering work in genetic engineering laid the groundwork for modern biotechnology, including the later production of human insulin.132