The simultaneous discovery in 1970 of reverse transcriptase in virions of retroviruses by Howard Temin and David Baltimore was perhaps the most dramatic scientific moment of the second half of the 20th century. Ten years previously, Temin’s observation of cells transformed by Rous Sarcoma virus led him to the conclusion that retroviruses replicate through a DNA intermediate he called the provirus. This heretical hypothesis was greeted with derision by fellow scientists; Temin and Baltimore performed a simple experiment, rapidly reproduced, and convincing to all. Its result was a major paradigm shift—reversal of the central dogma of molecular biology. It immediately grabbed the attention of both the scientific and lay press. It also came at a key time for cancer research, at the start of the “War on Cancer.” As a theoretical base and fundamental molecular tool, it enabled a decade of (largely fruitless) search for human oncogenic retroviruses but laid the foundation for the discovery of HIV 13 years later, leading to the development of effective therapy. I had the good fortune, as a student in Temin’s lab, to witness these events. I am honored to be able to share my recollection on the occasion of their 50th anniversary.

Howard Temin 和 David Baltimore 在 1970 年同时发现了逆转录病毒病毒粒子中的逆转录酶，这可能是 20 世纪下半叶最引人注目的科学时刻。十年前，特明对劳斯肉瘤病毒转化的细胞的观察使他得出结论，逆转录病毒通过他称为原病毒的 DNA 中间体进行复制。这一异端假说受到同行科学家的嘲笑。Temin 和 Baltimore 进行了一个简单的实验，迅速复制，并让所有人信服。它的结果是一个重大的范式转变——分子生物学中心法则的逆转。它立即引起了科学界和非专业媒体的注意。它也出现在癌症研究的关键时期，即“抗癌战争”开始之时。” 作为一种理论基础和基本分子工具，它实现了对人类致癌逆转录病毒的十年（基本上没有结果）的探索，但为 13 年后发现 HIV 奠定了基础，从而导致了有效疗法的发展。作为 Temin 实验室的学生，我有幸目睹了这些事件。我很荣幸能够在他们成立 50 周年之际分享我的回忆。