It's difficult to pinpoint a single "mother of biotechnology" as the field developed gradually over many years with contributions from various individuals. However, some key figures who played pivotal roles in the early development of biotechnology include:

* Dr. Kary Mullis (1944-2019): He developed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, a revolutionary tool for amplifying and analyzing DNA, which revolutionized molecular biology and genetics.

* Dr. Herbert Boyer (born 1936): He co-founded Genentech, the first company focused on developing and commercializing biotechnology products, and played a key role in the development of recombinant DNA technology.

* Dr. Stanley Cohen (born 1935): Along with Herbert Boyer, he pioneered the use of restriction enzymes to cut and paste DNA, which paved the way for gene cloning and genetic engineering.

* Dr. Paul Berg (born 1926): A pioneer in recombinant DNA technology, he received the Nobel Prize for his work on the insertion of a viral DNA segment into a bacterial plasmid.

* Dr. James Watson (born 1928): Along with Francis Crick, he co-discovered the double helix structure of DNA, a fundamental breakthrough in molecular biology that paved the way for the development of biotechnology.

While these individuals made significant contributions, many other scientists, researchers, and engineers from various fields, such as microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, and engineering, played crucial roles in shaping the field of biotechnology.

Therefore, it's more accurate to recognize the collaborative efforts of numerous individuals across different disciplines who contributed to the development of biotechnology.