The discovery or invention of DNA cloning by Cohen and Boyer over 30 years ago has fundamentally changed the entire approach to biomedical research. Their discoveries have provided the foundation for much of the contemporary biomedical research, and have led directly to the extraordinary advances made in molecular biology and medicine.

DNA cloning opened up our understanding of the structure and function of genes at the molecular level in both health and disease. These discoveries made possible not only the mapping and sequencing of entire genomes, but also the development of cell systems directed to the production of novel therapeutic substances for the treatment of disease. Methods were developed for the isolation of individual genes by cloning the genes in living cells and then propagating and expressing the genes in biological species other than the original gene host.

Cohen and Boyer discovered that genes from any biological species can be propagated and cloned in foreign cells by linking them to DNA molecules that possess the capacity to replicate in the intended host.

The impact of these discoveries on the betterment of mankind has been phenomenal. The seminal contributions made by Cohen and Boyer have uncovered the mysteries of genes and enabled the molecular mechanisms by which genes regulate health and disease. This, in turn, led to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases and established the foundation for modern biotechnology.