Paul Berg

Stanford University
Canada Gairdner Award National Academy of Sciences Nobel Prize

Paul Berg joined the nascent Biochemisty department at Stanford University in 1959 and has remained there since. Berg’s early work led to the discovery of the aminoacyl tRNA synthetases and tRNAs and their role in protein synthesis. Berg was a pioneer in developing recombinant DNA techniques, work for which he shared the 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Walter Gilbert and Fred Sanger. Berg is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the National Medal of Science and the American Society for Cell Biology’s Public Service Award.

Talks with this Speaker

Making the First Recombinant DNA Molecule

Paul Berg reminisces about the ideas and experiments that led to the creation of the first recombinant DNA molecule, work that led to the 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. (Talk recorded in March 2011)

Audience:

General Public
Student
Researcher
Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad

Duration: 6:10

Recombinant DNA and Science Policy

Paul Berg recalls how concerns about an early recombinant DNA experiment in his lab launched him into the science policy arena. (Talk recorded in March 2011)

Audience:

Student
Researcher
Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad

Duration: 14:27

Contemporary Science Policy Issues

Paul Berg continues his interview on science policy issues with Larry Goldstein, including why it has been difficult to develop policies on issues such as GMOs and embryonic stem cell research. (Talk recorded in March 2011)