On This Day in Tech History

In 1967, scientists successfully created DNA in a test tube for the first time. This achievement was a major breakthrough in the field of genetics and molecular biology, as it demonstrated that DNA could be synthesized outside of a living organism. The researchers used chemical methods to assemble nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, into long strands that could be joined together to form a complete DNA molecule. This process paved the way for new techniques in genetic engineering and gene therapy, and it has had a significant impact on fields such as medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.

David Wilkinson was an American inventor who lived in Rhode Island during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was granted multiple patents for his inventions, including a notable one on December 14th, 1798, for a nut and bolt machine. The nut and bolt machine was designed to streamline the production of screws, which were an essential component of many machines and devices at the time. Prior to the invention of the nut and bolt machine, screws were typically made by hand, which was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Wilkinson's machine changed this by automating the production of screws, making it possible to produce them much more quickly and efficiently.