Sticky ends and a new Creation

Abstract

James Watson in his book Recombinant DNA—A Short Course recalls that in 1966 despite the fact that the genetic code had been fully deciphered molecular biology appeared to some to be at an impasse. Unless some radically new methods emerged to enable scientists to isolate and study individual genes, there appeared to be little prospect of further dramatic advances. According to Watson, to avoid “marking time” several eminent researchers actually left molecular genetics for neurobiology. He was undoubtedly referring to, among others, Francis Crick, who moved on to the field of developmental biology and to the study of the brain.