Restriction enzymes recognize particular DNA sequences and cut at specific sites. That capability enabled DNA mapping and provided a tool for manipulating genetic material, including work on the SV40 viral genome.
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38:481970 to 1971, the discovery of restriction enzymes and DNA mapping. Again, we're seeing this progression >> over the course of part one and part two of our understanding of this fundamental >> Yeah. >> piece. >> Exactly. We we're we're getting better and better at manipulating DNA. Now, this is microbiologists Hamilton Smith, Daniel Nathans's alongside Kathleen Kathleen Dana, who did not win the Nobel Prize in 1978. The other two did. Um, they discovered sightspecific restriction enzymes, meaning I've got a piece of DNA now. I've got an enzyme that will look for a very specific code in that DNA, recognize it, and then cut it. Um, huge for genetic engineering.
39:30Um, they used this very, very nice tool to map the SV40 viral genome at John's Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. It's the first time that we've actually mapped the entire genome of anything. In this case, it was a virus, but still huge deal. Starts the race to map everything else >> and we will be coming to future aspects