Final answer:
Key figures like Watson, Crick, Franklin, Sanger, Woese, and the NIH Consortium have made foundational contributions to molecular biology, paving the way for biotechnologies like PCR, which relies on the understanding of DNA's structure for its effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The researchers and companies in question made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology, which have been integral to the development of various forms of biotechnology. James Watson and Francis Crick, along with contributions from Rosalind Franklin, were seminal in discovering the double helix structure of DNA, which is crucial for understanding DNA replication and genetic inheritance. Frederick Sanger developed the Sanger sequencing method, which was the first method to sequence DNA and has been foundational for genetic analysis. Carl Woese is renowned for defining the Archaea, a new domain of life, through ribosomal RNA sequencing. Lastly, the NIH Consortium, including Francis Collins and others, significantly contributed to the Human Genome Project, which completed the first draft sequence of the human genome, revolutionizing our understanding of human biology.
One modern form of biotechnology is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a method used to amplify specific DNA sequences, making millions of copies from a small initial sample, which can be then used for genetic analysis, diagnostic tests, and forensic identification. Without Watson and Crick's understanding of DNA's structure, the precise duplication of DNA sequences required for PCR would not be possible. The advancements in our understanding of the DNA structure have enabled us to utilize such technologies for identification, medical diagnosis, research, and more.