rDNA and Risk: Controversies of the 1970s and 80s

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rDNA and RiskControversies of the 1970s and 80s

• HSCI E137 Feb 23, 2011

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Some of the scientific developmentspreceding the
biotech era

• Search for hereditary basis for traits and
  diseases (Penrose, 1940s)
• One gene-one enzyme hypothesis (Beadle and Tatum,
  1940s)
• Concept of molecular disease (Pauling, 1949)
• DNA as hereditary material (Hershey and Chase,
  1951)
• Structure of DNA (Watson and Crick, 1953)

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Scientific developments

• The central dogma DNA makes RNA makes protein
  (Crick, 1958)
• Frog cloned (Gurdon, 1961)
• Discovery of restriction enzymes (late 1960s)
• Recombinant DNA (1973)

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Krimskys Biotechnics

• Ks view of technology as contingent, not
  autonomous cell-as-factory metaphor
• K divides the history of the early biotech
  revolution by decade
• Defining events in the first decade (1970s)
• 1973 first successful recombinant DNA
• 1974 formation of NIH RAC
• 1975 Asilomar conference

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Defining events 1970s

• 1976-77 public involvement in rDNA debate
• Cambridge City Council hearing, June 26, 1976
  (video)
• 1977 Cambridge passes rDNA law
• 1977 Rifkins debut as anti-genetics activist

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Rifkin protesting in the 1990s
Rifkin in 2009
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1980s developments

• Growing commercialization of biotech RDLPs and
  biopatenting policies
• From lab containment to deliberate release
• Field testing of ice minus (1982-1987)
• EPA steps in as regulator
• Risk assessment geneticists vs. ecologists