Paul Berg was an American biochemist and professor at Stanford University who won a Nobel Prize in biochemistry and is credited for ushering in the era of genetic engineering in 1971 by successfully combining DNA from two different organisms. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Berg attended Penn State University for his Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry graduating in 1948 and his PhD in biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in 1952. From 1952–1954 he worked as a ... morePaul Berg was an American biochemist and professor at Stanford University who won a Nobel Prize in biochemistry and is credited for ushering in the era of genetic engineering in 1971 by successfully combining DNA from two different organisms. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Berg attended Penn State University for his Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry graduating in 1948 and his PhD in biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in 1952. From 1952–1954 he worked as a postdoctoral fellow with the American Cancer Society. In 1955 he joined the faculty of Washington University. Berg moved to Stanford University, where he taught biochemistry from 1959 to 2000. He pioneered work involving gene splicing of recombinant DNA, a technique that was fundamental in the development of modern genetic engineering and genetic engineering of new therapeutic treatments for diseases and of vaccines, like the messenger RNA used to counter the virus that causes Covid-19. He was a recipient of numerous awards like the National Medal of Science presented to him President Ronald Regan in 1983 and the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
