Part 1 The “Analyzing Life’s Mysteries” Project Was Born from Analytical Instrument Development

Archive of Analytical Instruments Unraveling Life

Part 1
The “Analyzing Life’s Mysteries” Project Was Born from Analytical Instrument Development

Introduction

This series is based on a manuscript I had the honor of writing for the Journal of the Society for Biotechnology, Japan, “Continuation of the Fundamentals of Biotechnology Lecture Series/Miscellaneous Discussions,” Vol. 101, No. 10 (November 2023 issue), with revisions and additions for your reading.

The year 2026 marks over 25 years since the completion of the Human Genome Project. The pharmaceutical market is evolving rapidly, with biopharmaceuticals surpassing small-molecule drugs to exceed 50% of the global market. Furthermore, we have entered an era where accelerated progress is anticipated through the practical application of AI.

The term “archive” is not merely about recollection or nostalgia. Only by looking back at the past, understanding the thinking of our predecessors, the legacies they left behind, the arduous paths to success, and the environments of their time, and then reassessing the environment we stand in today, can we truly predict the future and set a clear destination as our goal to walk towards.

Back in the 1970s, the term “workaholic employee” was popular, depicting the image of the salaryman. In post-war Japan, the manufacturing industry contributed to the nation’s recovery during the high-growth period. However, I believe we may have walked through this era without acquiring the skills necessary to formulate the strategies and tactics needed to survive the future amidst the changing times.

Therefore, in this series, I have reflected on the paths taken by our predecessors, recalled what lay behind the breakthrough technologies in bioscience research, and written about them. First, I will massage my brain to recall memories hidden in my mind and write them down.

“Analyzing Life’s Mysteries” Project

Advances in bioscience research depend on the development of analytical instruments and reagents to understand the molecular mechanisms of DNA/RNA and proteins that constitute living organisms. Approximately 30 years after J. Watson and F. Crick announced the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, Professor Akiyoshi Wada, then Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Tokyo and later Director of the RIKEN Center for Genomic Sciences, proposed the “Concept of High-Speed Automated DNA Sequencing” and published the following article in Nature magazine:

“In research to decipher genes, whoever develops the analytical instruments to read DNA will dominate the world.”
“Just as major nations compete to build giant telescopes, in the 21st century, countries will build genome centers. These will become symbols demonstrating a nation’s power and knowledge.”

This paper appeared more than three years before the U.S. announced its Human Genome Project. It served as a catalyst, drawing leading experts from around the world to the International Workshop “High-Speed Automated DNA Analysis Devices” (the Hayashibara Forum) held in Okayama City that same year, and to the RIKEN International Symposium “Mapping and Sequencing Methods for Human Genes.” These gatherings significantly advanced global efforts toward human genome sequencing. Among the assembled members were Dr. Craig Venter of Celera Genomics, who was later congratulated by President Clinton at the White House when the completion of the human genome was declared, and Dr. Mike Hancapiller, founder of Applied Biosystems (ABI).

Japan’s pioneering actions at that time sent shockwaves around the world. Inspired by this, the United States allocated substantial budgets, mobilized the nation to cultivate life science researchers, developed DNA-reading analytical instruments, and successfully completed the human genome sequencing.

Entering the 21st century, new technologies emerged across various fields, leading to the progress we see today. Japan’s success truly laid the foundation for where we are now. I sincerely hope young engineers will learn this fact and, with courage, help Japan succeed as a nation built on science and technology.