Paul Berg, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry and emeritus professor in Stanford’s biochemistry department, passed away on Feb. 15. Berg is remembered for his pioneering work in mixing DNA.
In 1971, he transferred material from one organism to another, creating the first recombinant DNA, or rDNA. He later helped lead a historic effort to write protocols for genetic research.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1980 was divided, one half awarded to Paul Berg "for his fundamental studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids, with particular regard to recombinant-DNA", the other half jointly to Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger "for their contributions concerning the determination of base sequences in nucleic acids"
Winning a single Nobel prize is a lofty achievement for most aspiring researchers, with only three people being granted the prize twice since its inception in 1901