Nobel Laureate Hamilton O. Smith, Whose Discovery Enabled Genetic Engineering, Dies at 94

Hamilton O. Smith, an American scientist whose critical discovery helped launch the era of genetic engineering, has died at 94. In 1970, Dr. Smith identified a key enzyme in bacteria that cuts DNA at specific points. This enzyme, called a restriction enzyme, acts like molecular scissors. His work provided the essential tools for cutting and splicing genes. This laid the direct groundwork for modern biotechnology. These techniques enabled milestones such as the mass production of human insulin for diabetes and advanced gene therapy research. For this breakthrough, Dr. Smith shared the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His discovery remains a cornerstone of molecular biology and medical research worldwide.