Was recorded at Cetus Corporation, Emeryville, California. Kwok, Sninsky, Saiki, Scharf, Leath, Widunas, Jones, Watson, Respess, Erlich, Gelfand, Mullis and Faloona discussed the invention of the PCR technique, early applications, and development of technologies for automating the process, c. 1980-1992, including: Participants' biographical data; application of the PCR technique to the diagnosis and study of HIV and AIDS; invention of the PCR technique; introduction of the thermostable enzyme Taq DNA Polymerase from the bacterium Thermus aquaticus to the PCR technique; design and engineering of automated thermocycling machines; publicizing the invention of PCR; use of PCR for genetics research; development of commercial thermocycling instruments; Cetus' work environment; sale of PCR patent to Hoffman-LaRoche; use of PCR in forensics; and patenting PCR. Visual documentation included: Operations of Mr. Cycle, the first generation cycling machine; peltier device; demonstrations of the second- and third-generation thermocycling machines; Perkin-Elmer TC 4800 and 9600 thermocyclers; demonstration of the gel electrophoreses process using the TPCR 9600; Mullis diagramming the PCR process; gel from first successful experiment; Mullis' PCR lecture slides; and Cetus mural.

Object Details

See more items in: History of the Polymerase Chain Reaction Videohistory Collection; History of the Polymerase Chain Reaction Videohistory Collection / Interviews

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9577, History of the Polymerase Chain Reaction Videohistory Collection