Biotechnology milestone: Who synthesized the first wholly artificial gene in the laboratory? Context: Late 1960s nucleic-acid synthesis breakthrough using chemical methods. Choose the correct scientist.

Given data

• Asks who synthesized the first fully artificial gene.

Concept / Approach
Har Gobind Khorana and colleagues developed stepwise chemical synthesis of nucleic acids and assembled the first wholly artificial gene by 1968–1970, a landmark in molecular biology.

Why others are incorrect
Watson and Franklin were central to DNA structure; Sanger pioneered sequencing, not the first synthetic gene.

Final Answer
Har Gobind Khorana.