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Making DNA and its becoming an experimental commodity

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  • Berry, Dominic J.

Abstract

This paper pursues the history of biology and technology in tandem. It focuses on DNA’s materiality regardless of informational properties. My emphasis on ‘making’ integrates attention to cultures of work in material histories of biology with analyses of the development of technical apparatuses and machines. When it comes to the history of DNA synthesis our materials are as much chemical as they are biological, which means that there is really a third history present, one that also needs to be drawn in, but on its own terms. I demonstrate the ways in which different chemistries have been combined with different technologies, all together affording different arrangements of personnel and biological science. It is a history of how synthesised DNA first came to be, became desired, and became a commodity, available for inclusion in a wide variety of experiments and experimental systems. This method could be replicated for other ‘experimental commodities’.

Suggested Citation

  • Berry, Dominic J., 2020. "Making DNA and its becoming an experimental commodity," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 102532, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:102532
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/102532/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mirowski, Philip, 2011. "Science-Mart: Privatizing American Science," Economics Books, Harvard University Press, number 9780674046467, Spring.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    synthetic biology; DNA synthesis; biological engineering; chemistry; commodification;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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