The development of life science and biotechnology from the centennial Nobel Prize in Natural Science

In 1973, American geneticists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer invented recombinant DNA technology, which marked the birth of genetic engineering. In 1978, Genentech (founded in 1976 by Herbert Boyer and venture capitalist Robert Boyer) produced the first genetically engineered drug - human insulin (Humulin) - in E. coli using recombinant DNA technology. Insulin remains the most effective clinical treatment for diabetes, and the production of genetically modified human insulin ushered in a new era in the pharmaceutical industry (Cohen was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). In 1974, German biochemist Rudolf Jaenisch and American embryologist Beatrice Mintz introduced viral DNA into mice, creating the first genetically modified animal. From 1981 to 1988, the British developmental biologist Martin Evans and the American geneticists Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies developed the technique of using homologous recombination of DNA to alter the DNA of an animal genome at a fixed point, thus achieving stable genetic mutations in animals. Transgenic animals are therefore widely used in basic research of life sciences. In addition, genetically modified animals have also become an important field of agricultural and medical application development, and gradually develop into the most commercially promising high-tech industry. (2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine)

In 1975, German biochemist Georges Kohler and British biochemist Cesar Milstein invented monoclonal antibody technology, which became a major breakthrough in the field of immunology. Monoclonal antibodies can recognize antigens with a high degree of specificity and mediate immune cells to clear invading pathogens. Monoclonal antibody drugs have become the mainstream of biological drugs and are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Among the world's top 10 drug sales in 2015, 5 were monoclonal antibody drugs (Tian Tian, Science and Technology Guide, 2016.). In addition, the technology has also been widely used in food production and processing and scientific research. (1984 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine)

In 1977, British biochemist Frederick Sanger and American biochemist Walter Gilbert invented DNA sequencing technology. From 1996 to 2003, scientists used this technology to complete the "human genome Project", which not only laid the foundation for the study of human diseases and personalized medicine, but also laid the foundation for the development of life sciences in the 21st century and the industrialization of modern medical biotechnology, which has great scientific significance and great commercial value. (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1980)

On July 25, 1978, the world's first test-tube baby was born, and the foundation work came from a series of studies on in vitro fertilization published by British physiologist Robert G. Edwards in the 1960s. Edwards himself is known as the "father of IVF," and a new field of medicine - the treatment of human infertility - was born. (2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine)

In 1983, American biochemist Kary Mulllis invented the PCR technique. This technology is a revolutionary technology for life science research, and has been widely used in molecular biology and genetic engineering and other fields related to DNA identification, such as disease surveillance, clinical application, commodity quarantine, judicial identification, new drug development and many other fields. (1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry)

In 1983, Belgian molecular biologists Marc Van Montagu and Jozef Schell introduced chloramphenicol resistance genes from bacteria into tobacco and obtained the first transgenic plant. Monsanto's genetically modified corn was introduced in 1996.

In 2006, British scientist John B. Gurdon and Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka won the prize for "discovering that mature cells can be reprogrammed to achieve pluripotency." In 1962, John B. Gurdon replaced the nucleus of a frog egg cell with the nucleus of a mature intestinal cell, and the altered egg eventually developed into a normal tadpole. In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka invented induced pluripotent stem cell technology (iPS). These two breakthroughs revolutionized our understanding of development and differentiation. The invention of iPS has shown extremely important application prospects in organ transplantation, genetic disease treatment, disease model building and so on. (2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine)

In 2015, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her outstanding contribution to artemisinin's antimalarial research. Dr. Tu Youyou's research and development achievements have effectively suppressed the ravaging of malaria. The achievement of this award reflects the prosperity and progress of China's science and technology, the great contribution of traditional Chinese medicine to human health, and the continuous improvement of China's comprehensive national strength and international influence.

3. Cutting-edge and cross-cutting research is the driving force for the development of biotechnology