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Berg (Paul) Papers
SC0358
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Paul Berg papers
Identifier/Call Number: SC0358
Physical Description:
89 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1953-1998
Physical Location: Special Collections and University
Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more
information on paging collections, see the department's website:
http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Language of Material:
English .
Search files, student files, personnel files, letters of recommendation, and other
confidential materials are restricted. Otherwise, materials are open for research use.
Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a
digital use copy.
Biochemistry Professor at Stanford University since 1960, Berg received the Nobel Prize for
chemistry in 1980 for "fundamental studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids with
particular regard to recombinant DNA." He was appointed Director of Stanford's Center for
Molecular and Genetic Medicine in 1984. In 1967, Berg, working at the Salk Institute,
redirected his study of protein synthesis from bacterial cells to tumor viruses. By 1970,
this research had led Berg and his associates to conclude their experiments could form the
basis of "man-made living matter." Spurred by growing ethical questions, Berg chaired the
National Academy of Sciences 1975 conference which focused on the potential hazards of
recombinant DNA research and resulted in the policy and quidelines which form the framework
for genetic research.
| 1952-1954: | American Cancer Society fellow, Institute in Copenhagen and Washington University School of medicine. His work was concerned with clarifying how the master substances of heredity, DNA, transfers its genetic information to analogous molecules, known as RNA, which serve as templates for making proteins. |
| 1954: | Scholar in cancer research at University of Washington. His work on the genetic apparatus that directs the synthesis of protein earned Berg the Eli Lilly award in biochemistry in 1959. |
| 1960: | Stanford School of Medicine, associate professor of biochemistry and until 1967 continued work on protein synthesis. All this work was based on bacterial cells, but in 1967, he decided to do research on animal cells, taking a year's leave. He worked at the Salk Institute on tumor viruses. |
| 1970: | By about 1970, Berg and his associates began to think how they might use tumor viruses to bring new genes to animal cells - "man-made living matter" or "engineered a new genetic molecule." This raised the question of ethics, so, in 1973, they stopped experimentation. |
| 1975: | National Academy of Sciences sponsors meeting, chaired by Berg, whose purpose is to conduct a survey of potential hazards involved (Asilomar). This resulted in a set of recommendations to establish guidelines to put certain constraints on experiments; these were organized by the NIH and are used as guidelines today. |
| 1980: | Berg was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for "fundamental studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids with particular regard to recombinant DNA." Berg was also responsible for shaping "policy" for dealing with possible risks of recombinant DNA research. |
| 1984: | Appointed director of Stanford University's Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine. |
Gift of Paul Berg, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2007, 2013.
[Identification of item], Paul Berg Papers (SC0358). Dept. of Special Collections and
University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Collection focuses on Berg's work with recombinant DNA and includes professional
correspondence, 1959-1985; research lab notebooks for the years 1953-1986 which document his
work with protein synthesis in bacterial cells and tumor viruses; records concerning the
National Academy of Sciences conference on recombinant DNA research guidelines; records from
his Stanford positions including administrative files, grant files, departmental records,
student files, lectures, and symposia; reprints and illustrations; and videotapes and
audiotapes.
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the
documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the
Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Nobel Prizes.
Recombinant DNA -- Research.
Molecular genetics.
Science -- Moral and ethical aspects.