Quantification of knowledge content of a high impact innovation: recombinant DNA

Quantitative analysis of knowledge content of a significant technological innovation is a novel approach to understand the scientific discovery process. Here we describe such an analysis applied to the invention of recombinant DNA technology in the early 1970's. Two focal papers are selected, i.e., Jackson et al., 1972 and Cohen et al., 1973. A knowledge framework called EApc is described to categorize knowledge types and their quantification. The focal papers, along with their reference lists, are used to determine the minimal scientific knowledge necessary for generating the notions central to each focal paper. Attempts are made to trace how each type of knowledge was generated by various research communities. The results are discussed in terms of their potential implications in measuring, evaluating, understanding and managing the scientific research process.