HKU Bulletin October 2004 (Vol. 6 No. 1)

9 8 RESEARCH Yuet-wai Kan, Louis K. Diamond Professor of Haematology, Medicine and Laboratory Medicine at UC San Francisco P rofessor Kan Yuet-wai, one of our graduates was delighted to be back at his alma mater to deliver his lecture entitled A Slow Boat from China . As a Wah Yan College boy he said one of his greatest early influences had been his teacher, Father S.J. Lawler, whom he described as ‘a superb science teacher’. Later, as a HKU student, he studied under a whole host of great and influential teachers including F.J.S. McFadzean, Stephen Cheng, Rosie Young and David Todd K . an spent two years at Queen Mary Hospi tal conduct ing cl inical work but instead of taking the usual route of continuing his studies in England he headed for the United States. “In 1960 McFadzean told me that if I wanted to do research I must learn biochemistry.” He took those prophetic words to heart and never looked back. After a short stint at the Royal Victoria Hospital at McGill University in Montreal, he moved to the Children’s Hospital in Boston where he studied the development of haemoglobin in people. And he had no qualms about mixing work with home life. In need of a normal model for an experiment he took a blood sample from his newborn daughter just minutes after she was delivered. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kan published a series of papers on the traits and detection of thalassemia. Then, in 1972, he published a seminal paper on the detection of the sickle gene in the human foetus and provided insights on the potential for intrauterine diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. The discovery of DNA polymorphism was di rect ly responsible for the development of DNA-based pre-natal diagnosis of a variety of genetic disorders in families at risk. The pr inciple of DNA polymorphism was also the foundation on which the field of reverse genetics developed. Before the discovery of DNA polymorphism, genes were cloned by forward genet ics, which involved the isolat ion and purification of the respective proteins followed by cloning of the cDNA’s and then the chromosomal genes. The ident i f icat ion of polymorphic markers in the human genome has permitted the localization of the disease- causing genes in thei r respect ive chromosomes and facilitated their cloning. This new technology permi tted the isolation of disease-causing genes without any knowledge of their gene products. It was truly revolutionary in the field of human genet ics and the impact of these discoveries on the betterment of humankind has been astounding. The seminal contributions made by Kan on DNA polymorphism made it possible to trace the transmission of disease-causing genes in families. As a direct result of these discoveries, novel DNA-based diagnostic procedures have been developed to detect pre-natal genetic disorders such as sickle cell anaemia. Embryonic stem call technique can now be done in mice. But, Kan asked, “Can you do it in people? There are many difficulties with this.” He pointed to ethical and regulatory issues in terms of stem cell research and germ-like manipulation. “It will take many years to solve these problems. I hope we will have newer methods of diagnosis in the future,” he said. includes philosophy and history as well as science. He finished his undergraduate degree having set out to study medicine. However he was not accepted by the one college to which he applied. “Again I think fate played a role.” Instead he headed to the University of Pittsburgh where he gained a master and doctorate degree in bacteriology in 1960 and 1963 respectively. Ten years later, after a ‘fateful’ meeting with Stanley Cohen at a conference in Hawaii the two published a paper that turned out to be one of the most seminal of all publications in the biological and life sciences. Their discovery of DNA cloning has provided the foundat ion for much contemporary biomedical research and has led di rect ly to the advances made in molecular biology and medicine over the past 30 years. In 1975 fate again stepped forward in the shape of Robert Swanson who worked for a venture capitalist company. Looking for new technology that could be commercialized he approached Boyer and they “pitched” to Swanson’s company. “For some reason they liked me, perhaps it’s because I didn’t ask for much money,” he laug A he y d e . ar later Boyer star ted Genetech wi th just ten employees and $200,000. Today US$15.5 billion is invested in the development of new pharmaceutical products in California alon “ e I . never thought of myself as a genius or above average intelligence but I worked hard. The primary stimulant was to work hard on something that interested me. This is what brought me here today.” And he concluded that “the most fateful event of my life happened when I was 16 years of age when I met the young girl who would become my wife.” Herbert Boyer, Professor Emeritus of Biotechnology and Biophysics, UC San Francisco D NA cloning has revolutionized the biological and life sciences by prising open the pathway to understanding the structure and function of genes in both health and dise H as e e r . bert Boyer’s discovery that genes f rom any biological species can be propagated and cloned in foreign cells has had a phenomenal impact on how we view disease and its prevention. Although he has not been an active scientist for 15 years he told our students that he hoped his lecture would provide guidance and inspi rat ion for young scientists in their own careers. Fate, he said, had played a major role in his success. “You can call it destiny, luck or chance but there were many instances where if this had not happened I would not be where I am today.” Born in 1936 in the United States he was in high school when Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA. The year was 1953 and it marked the beginning of the biomedical revolution. “At that time I was a high school student with a dismal academic record. I was more interested in footbal l and athletics,” he confided. Fortunately his coach also taught chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, geography and geology – for which Boyer quickly developed a passion. “It was fateful that this man was there at the beginning of my career,” he said. Boyer went on to attend the St Vincent’s Liberal Arts College and espoused the value of a liberal education which Three of the four winners of The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine chose to deliver their lectures at the University in September. The Prize, established under the auspices of Sir Run Run Shaw in 2002 was awarded for the first time this year. It honours scientists, regardless of race, nationality and religious beliefs, who have achieved significant breakthroughs in academic and scientific research and whose work has had a positive impact on mankind. The winners included Professor Herbert Boyer for his discoveries on DNA cloning and genetic engineering, Professor Yuet-wai Kan for his discoveries on DNA polymorphism and its influence on human genetics and Sir Richard Doll for his contribution to modern cancer epidemiology. The Shaw Prize Lectures