Caves were thought to be essentially devoid of life until six years ago, when the renowned University of Colorado microbiologist Norman Pace, also an avid caver, discovered a way to identify extremophile microorganisms by cloning and sequencing unique sections of their DNA. Prior to Pace's work biologists had fruitlessly tried to cultivate these microorganisms with traditional lab techniques using nutrient-rich petri dishes.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But his foresight in the use of fingerprints, lab analysis and forensics paved the way for the modern crimefighting techniques we celebrate in story and television today.

FORBES: Scientists Use Ion Beams To Detect Forged Art

The Madrid lab has made only baby steps toward its grand plan to grow a human heart using the same techniques that Dr. Taylor pioneered with a rat heart.

WSJ: Science Fiction Comes Alive as Researchers Grow Organs in Lab