The influence of earlier work, particularly the concept of quasi equivalence described by Caspar and Klug could also be an important subject for this historical record. Structural studies of these plant viruses were instrumental in developing ideas of assembly and disassembly of icosahedral viruses. Knowledge of the latter structures has had extensive impact on a number of areas of interest including virus antibody interactions, virus - receptor recognition and mechanisms of antiviral activity. These subjects are important to a wide spectrum of scientists who could contribute to the historical record on the Web. In addition, however, plasmids may carry genes for many different sorts of functions.
Some plasmids carry genes which facilitate their transfer from one cell to another.
Other plasmids may recombine with the host cell chromosome and become integrated and mimic cellular genes. Some versions of these kinds of plasmids confer upon the whole chromosome the ability to be transferred to another cell, a rather primative sexual process discovered by Lederberg and Tatum in 1946, known as bacterial mating. The ability to isolate and manipulate plasmids outside the cell, add DNA segements to the plasmid and then re-introduce it into the cell in a functional form, has given rise to the procedures and processes of recombinant DNA technology. Many of the key early participants are active but in, or near retirement. Thus, both identification of the members of this field and mechanisms for recruitment will start with these sources.