| Paul Berg  Born: 30-Jun-1926
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Chemist
Party Affiliation: Democratic Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Pioneer in recombinant DNA Military service: US Navy (WWII) In 1956, American biochemist Paul Berg identified transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA), molecules inside the cell that follow directions coded in the messenger RNA (mRNA) and connect the amino acids to the correct protein chain during synthesis at the ribosome of the cell. In 1972, he used new gene splicing techniques to create the first recombinant DNA molecules, but in 1974, in what became known as the "Berg letter", he warned of the dangers inherent in experimenting with recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid. This led to the National Institutes of Health's 1976 creation of guidelines for such work. Berg shared the 1980 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger, for their research into nucleic acids. Father: Harry Berg (clothing manufacturer)
Mother: Sarah Brodsky (homemaker)
Wife: Mildred Levy (m. 3-Sep-1947, one son)
Son: John Alexander Berg
High School: Abraham Lincoln High School, Brooklyn, NY (1943)
University: BS Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University (1948)
University: PhD, Western Reserve University (1952)
Scholar: Institute of Cytophysiology, Copenhagen, Denmark (1952-53)
Scholar: Biochemistry and Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis (1953-54)
Teacher: Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis (1955-59)
Teacher: Biochemistry, Stanford University (1959-60)
Professor: Biochemistry, Stanford University (1960-70)
Administrator: Chairman, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University (1969-74)
Professor: Sam, Lulu and Jack Willson Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University (1970-94)
Administrator: Beckman Center for Molecular-Genetic Medicine, Stanford University (1985-2000)
Administrator: Trustee, Rockefeller University (1990-92)
Professor: Cahill Professor in Cancer Research, Stanford University (1994-2000)
Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry 1959
California Scientist of the Year 1963
Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching 1969, 1972
Gairdner Foundation International Award 1980
Lasker Award 1980
Nobel Prize for Chemistry 1980 (with Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger)
National Medal of Science 1983
National Library of Medicine Award 1986
Member of the Board of Gilead Sciences (1998-)
Schering-Plough Founder and Scientific Advisor, DNAX Research Institute
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Editor, 1959-68
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Board of Sponsors
Journal of Molecular Biology Editorial Board (past)
Academy of Achievement 1988
Al Franken for Senate
American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1966
American Academy of Microbiology 1992
American Association for the Advancement of Science 1991
American Cancer Society Research Fellow, 1952-54
American Philosophical Society 1983
American Society for Cell Biology
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology President, 1974-75
Bill Bradley for President
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic National Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
European Molecular Biology Organization 1984
Exploratorium
Federation of American Scientists Board of Sponsors
French Academy of Sciences Foreign Member, 1981
Institute of Medicine 1974
Japanese Biochemical Society Foreign Member
John Edwards for President
John Kerry for President
National Academy of Sciences 1966
National Science Foundation
Obama for America
One America Committee
Pontifical Academy of Sciences 1996
Research!America Scientific Advisory Committee
Royal Society Foreign Member, 1992
Russian Academy of Sciences Foreign Member, 1991
Salk Institute for Biological Studies Fellow, 1973-83
National Institutes of Health Research Fellow, 1950-52
Beta Sigma Beta
Jewish Ancestry
Author of books:
Genes & Genomes: A Changing Perspective (1991, biochemistry; with Maxine Singer)
Dealing with Genes: The Language of Heredity (1992, biochemistry; with Maxine Singer)
Exploring Genetic Mechanisms (1997, biochemistry; with Maxine Singer)
George Beadle: An Uncommon Farmer (2003, biography; with Maxine Singer)
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