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for DNA sequences. History of 'biotechnology' The free release of DNA probes to laboratories throughout the world has StR-Aithough old uses of the word 'bio­ different usages has often been overlooked contributed largely to the exponential 1 technology' have been noticed , no satis­ because they do share an important increase in our understanding of genetic factory lineage has been traced. I should connotation: a new biological approach to diseases. For the future, it is essential to like to draw attention to a source that a great range of industries. This breadth guarantee the availability of the necessary fulfills three strict criteria: a self-conscious was foreshadowed in the aftermath of the PCR primers. claim to novelty, recognition from others First World War by Ereky's formulation pATRICK J. WILLEMS of that novelty and noticeable use of the of the concept of biotechnology. Department of Medical Genetics, word. RoBERTBuo University of Antwerp/VIA, In 1919, Kark Ereky, the Hungarian The Science Museum, Universiteitsplein 1, agricultural economist and, briefly, London SW7 2DD, UK 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium minister of food in the counter­ I. Saiki, R.K. eta/. Science239, 487-491 (1988). l. Dixon, B. New Scient. 105 , 38 (1985). revolutionary government, published an 2. Ereky, K. Bioteclmologie der Fleisch-, Fett- und 84-page manifesto entitled: Biotechnologie Milcherzeugung im landwirtschaftlichen Gross- der Fleisch-, Fett- und Milcherzeugung in betrieb (Paul Parey, Berlin, 1919) . Soviet refusniks 3. Pringsheim H. Naturwissenschaften 1, 112 (1919). landwirtschaflischen Grof3betrieb. Follow­ 4. Lindner P. Z. Technische Bioi. 8, 54-56 (1920). SIR-We appreciate the increase in the ing the precedents of chemical technology 5. Hase A. Z. Technische Bioi. 8, 23-45 (1920). number of exit visas from the Soviet 6. Nature 131,597-599 (!933). and mechanical technology, Ereky coined 7. Goldscheid R. H6heentwick/ung und Menscheniik­ Union granted to Jews, including some his new word to cover the interaction of onomie: Grund/egen der Sozialbiologie (Werner long-term refusniks who want to emigrate. Klinkhardt, Leipzig, !9!1)S biology with technology, connoting all 8. Taylor, Craig L. & Boelter, L.M.K. Science 105, 217-19 But despite the sizeable increase in the production by means of biological trans­ (1947). number of visas, a substantial number of formation: 9 .Bud, Robert. Chern. Brit. 24,441-444, 466 (1988). long-term refusniks have no foreseeable 10. US Trademark, 1180658 filed 3 December 1979, expired I Auf Grund des gleichen Gedankenganges weist July 1988. hope of leaving. Several of them have der Verfasser aile die Arbeitsvorgiinge, bei been waiting for more than 15 years, and denen aus den Rohstoffen mit Unterstiitzung some have been told that they will not be lebender Organismen Konsumartikel erzeugt Primer availability allowed to leave until1992 or 1996. werden, dem Gebiete der Biotechnologie zu. SIR-The possible applications of the In most cases, the reason given is that [original emphasis f, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see of having access to secrecy. For instance, which may be translated as: "On the same ref. 1), which amplifies specific DNA the Uspensky family has been refused grounds the author classifies as bio­ sequences during successive cycles of because Igor Uspensky's mother, who is technology all the lines of work by which DNA denaturation and extension of in her late seventies, worked in the Ministry products are produced from raw materials specific oligonucleotides (primers) by of Agriculture until she retired 12 years with the aid of living organisms". DNA polymerase, are enormous, both for ago. She has been told that the reclassif­ Ereky's book was well received and basic research and for molecular diagnosis ication of her secrecy will take place after its originality recognized. Die Naturwis­ of inherited disease. In most laboratories 1996 (when she will be 84 years old). This senschaften described the author' goal as involved in molecular diagnosis of genetic not only prevents her from leaving but a new branch of knowlege that he calls diseases, PCR will gradually replace routine also her son, daughter-in-law and grand­ Biotechnologie'. DNA techniques of Southern blotting and sons. If they were not so tragic, one could Thereafter, the word biotechnology hybridization with radioactive probes. A put such classifications in the realms of the appeared in various contexts in the 1920s prerequisite to perform PCR, however, is 'Theatre of the absurd'. and early 1930s. Some applications clearly the availability of the specific primers. INGA FISCHER-HJALMARS follow from Ereky's formulation. It Recently, I requested primers for pre­ International Federation of Scientists appears immediately as a heading in Zeit­ natal diagnosis of two common genetic for Soviet Refuseniks, 4 schrift fur Technische Biologie • diseases. On both occasions the answer 33 Seymour Place, Other uses should not, however, be was negative, although the papers des­ London WJH6AT, UK attributed to Ereky. The similiar word cribing the primer sequences and their Biotechnik had come into use at about the possible applications had already been same time, and although there is a differ­ published. Costs of synthesis and distribu­ Biblical criticism ence in nuance, even in German the two tion of the primers were probably the SIR-The recent note (Nature 335, 203; words could be interchanged'. In English main factors hampering their release. If 1988) on the history of the survival of the translation, the distinction is almost entirely this becomes a general policy, labora­ Aleppo Codex describes the codex as the lost. Biotechnik therefore spawned the tories will each have to face the problem of Hebrew Pentateuch, the first five books of alternative meaning of the English bio­ synthesizing the respective primers for all the Old Testament. But the portion repro­ technology. In one of the first English the different diseases they are studying. duced is of a passage from the Book of uses, Nature entitled a 1933 editorial Most companies charge $1,000-$2,000 Judges (9:57 to 11:2). It includes the first 6 "Biotechnology" • Dealing with technol­ to synthesize 10 micromoles of a 20-30 part of the story of Jephthah- his exclu­ ogy and the problem of maintaining the base pair oligonucleotide, which is enough sion from his paternal inheritance by his quality of the human species, its title to provide 100 laboratories with primer step-brethren because he was "born of seems to refer to the concept of Biotechnik for 1,000 PCRs. With small fees ($15-$20) another woman". presented by Goldscheid in his social from each of the laboratories requesting MYER H. SALAMAN 7 biology of 1911 • the primers, costs for synthesis and 23 Bisham Gardens, Since then the word biotechnology has distribution could easily be covered. It London N6 6DJ, UK been reformulated many times: in 1947 to might be opportune, for logistic reasons, describe ergonomics•, in 1962 as the title to centralize primer synthesis and distribu­ e The Aleppo Codex originally for a new journal dealing with biochemical tion in an organization such as the contained all the books which now and microbiological engineering9 and in American Type Culture Collection constitute the Old Testament; about 1979 to describe the potential of genetic (ATCC), which has become a central one-third of the text has been dam­ 10 manipulation • The distinction between depository and distributing organization aged or destroyed. Editor, Nature