Basic Research

Important Examples BYT
(Before Your Time)

Model of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

There have been many historical examples in which basic research has played a vital role in the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Here are just a few important examples:

Our understanding of genetics and heredity is largely due to the studies of Gregor Mendel, who studied pea plants in the 1860's, and the experiments with fruitflies by T.H. Morgan in the early 20th century. These organisms were used because it was easier to design experiments using pea plants and fruitflies than using higher forms of life. (Fruitflies are still being used today in the Human Genome Project!)

DNA has been called the "ladder of life". Today, the double-helix structure of DNA is routinely introduced in middle school life science classes, but in the early 1950's, the structure of DNA was still being determined. Using data gathered from the previous basic research of other scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structural design of the DNA molecule in 1953. Determining DNA's structure was vital to our understanding of how DNA worked.

Many of today's electrical devices (e.g., radios, generators and alternators) can trace their roots to the basic research conducted by Michael Faraday in 1831. He discovered the principle of electromagnetic induction, that is, the relationship between electricity and magnetism.

At LBNL's Advanced Light Source, x-rays are used to help us to probe into very tiny samples of materials. But our understanding of the properties of x-rays began with the fundamental experiments of Wilhelm Rontgen in 1895.

In 1931, Earnest O. Lawrence invented the first functional cyclotron, a device that would allow scientists to accelerate atomic particles to incredible speeds. Soon after, the Berkeley National Laboratory was established. Subsequent basic research at LBNL led to the discovery of many radioactive isotopes. Some of these isotopes -- such as carbon-14, cobalt-60, hydrogen-3 (tritium), iodine-131, and technetium-99 -- later became vital research tools used by biologists, paleontologists, and archeologists, or as aids in the medical treatment of various diseases. Radio-isotope research at LBNL also included the creation of 15 of the so-called "heavy" (transuranic) elements. Albert Ghiorso, co-discoverer of 12 heavy elements, explains why the pursuit of new manmade elements is a worthwhile venture.

Each of these scientists was trying to learn about the basic nature of the phenomena that they were studying. Only today can we see the vast implications of their research!

How has applied research been important in the past?

Return to ELSI Home Page