eing the implementation of the new technology she developed and further improving it to be used in the introduction of new and novel genes into plants.
Robert T. Fraley
Born: 1953 in Wellington, Illinois
Education: Ph.D., Microbiology/Biochemistry, University of Illinois, 1978
Professional: Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Monsanto
Growing up on a small Midwestern, Fraley’s interest in the scientific complexities of living organisms developed early and blossomed during his undergraduate education and graduate training in microbiology and biochemistry. As a research specialist, Fraley led a plant molecular biology group that worked on developing better crops through genetic engineering—to give farmers real solutions to critical problems such as the pest and weed infestations that frequently destroyed crops.
A breakthrough occurred when Fraley and his team isolated a bacterial marker gene and engineered it to express in plant cells. By inserting that gene into Agrobacterium, they were able to transfer an immunity trait into petunia and tobacco cells. Fraley and his team produced the first transgenic plants using the Agrobacterium transformation process.
At Monsanto since 1981, Fraley’s work has helped arm farmers across the globe with genetically modified seeds that are resistant to insect and weed pests, and that are tolerant to changes in climate such as excessive heat and drought. He has especially championed making biotechnology accessible to small-holder farmers.
Marc Van Montagu
Born: 1933 in Ghent, Belgium
Education: Ph.D., Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry, Ghent University, 1965
Professional: Founder and Chairman of the Institute for Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO), Ghent, Belgium
As a student at Ghent University, Van Montagu became intrigued with the new science of molecular biology, particularly the functions of DNA and RNA.
In 1974, Van Montagu and his fellow researcher Jeff Schell (1935-2003) were the first to discover that Agrobacterium tumefaciens carries a rather large circular molecule of DNA, which they named “Ti plasmid.” This discovery galvanized the emerging molecular biology community, and set up a race to develop workable plant gene tools that could genetically engineer an array of plants and greatly enhance crop production worldwide.
Van Montagu founded two biotechnology companies: Plant Genetic Systems, best known for its early work on insect-resistant and herbicide tolerant crops; and Crop Design, a company focused on the genetic engineering of agronomic traits for the global commercial corn and rice seed markets. In 2000, he founded the Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach with the mission to assist developing countries in gaining access to the latest plant biotechnology developments and to stimulate their research institutions to become independent and competitive.