Discovery of the Structure of DNA Essay - 2374 Words

Discovery of the Structure of DNA On the last day of February in 1953, according to James Watson, Francis Crick announced to the patrons of the Eagle Pub in Cambridge, â€Å"We have discovered the secret of life† (Watson 115, 1980). As Brian Hayes, the author of â€Å"The Invention of the Genetic Code† states, â€Å"If life ever had a secret, the double helix of DNA was surely it† (1). However, it was not the work of these two men alone that led to the discovery of the power the lies within the double helix, but rather the work of many scientists that was carefully picked apart and pieced together by the two who received the most fame for the work. Scientists’ knowledge of DNA was reported as early as 1868, when the Swiss physician Fritz†¦show more content†¦On April 25, 1953, a short article published in Nature revealed the genetic function of DNA as it had been discovered through a study of its structure (Watson and Crick 737, 1953). Within their text, James Watson and Francis Crick proposed a model that showed how deoxyribonucleic acid could contain long, coded messages (Patterson 17, 1999). James Watson These coded patterns allowed for all traits within living things to be passed from one generation to the next, therefore unraveling a mystery that had previously been troubling to scientists. Colin Patterson, the author of Evolution, exclaims, â€Å"This model—the double helix—with its biological implications ranks as the greatest contribution to biology since the work of Darwin and Mendel, something that is obvious enough from the fact that the acronym DNA and the image of the double helix are among the icons of late twentieth-century culture† (17-18, 1999). Watson and Crick have not always had the recognition they now possess, but rather came from humble backgrounds and tested many failed hypotheses before arriving at their conclusion. It was neither genius nor talent that united these men; instead â€Å"they shared a conviction that DNA, not proteins, was the critical factor in passing on genetic information from generation to generation† (Access Excellence Classic Collection 3). Watson moved from the United States of America to EnglandShow MoreRelatedThe Discovery Of The Structure Of Dna1089 Words   |  5 PagesRosalind Franklin and her Contribution to the Structure of DNA Specific Purpose: To enable the audience to reflect on how Rosalind Franklin contributed to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Introduction: I. Open with Impact: Could you having a significant role in one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time, but not getting credit for it? Not only that, but constantly putting yourself in harm’s way to make this discovery, and eventually dying because of it? II. Thesis Statement:Read MoreThe Discovery Of The Dna Structure2092 Words   |  9 PagesOne of the most important things discovered and understood in biology within science, has been the discovery of the DNA structure. Where DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, though it is more known by nearly everyone simply as DNA. The idea behind DNA is that it is a self-replicating material that can be found in all living organisms, especially humans. The structure of DNA was solved in the year 1953, and was solved by four very important scientists who were; Francis Crick, RosalindRead MoreEssay on The Discovery Of The Structure Of DNA1526 Words   |  7 PagesJames Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, but only by drawing on the work of many scientists who came before them. (Maddox, 2003) In 1944, Oswald T. Avery, Colin M. 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There are four main scientists who contributed their lives, knowledge, and ambitions to find out the DNA doubleRead MoreBiology : Structure Of Dna818 Words   |  4 PagesBiology: Structure of DNA The article â€Å"The Structure of DNA: Cooperation and Competition† by the Understanding Science team (the author is Stephanie Stuart, with the editor Anna Thanukos, and the web producers David Smith and Josh Frankel) begins with the history of the discovery of DNA. â€Å"During the early 1950s, the intellectual journeys of a bird biologist, an expert on the structure of coal, a designer of underwater mines, and a nuclear physicist intersected, resulting—not in aRead MoreThe Importance of the Structure of Dna1582 Words   |  7 PagesKa Zhu The Importance of the Structure of DNA Understanding ideas at a macroscopic scale is simple. Looking at a clock, observing and understanding the movements of the hands over the numbered surface are, in essence, all one requires to use the device. In order for innovation to occur, it is imperative to understand the inner workings of the device on a microscopic scale to modulate its properties. Such is the case for many innovations in science, from the heat engine to penicillin, and is noRead MoreThe Structure Of Dn Cooperation And Competition949 Words   |  4 PagesThe Structure of DNA: Cooperation and Competition PRACTICAL PROBLEM: The question â€Å"How do living things pass on their traits to offspring† had long been on the minds of researchers. CURIOSITY: Curiosity was a trait of all those who wondered about that question. Gregor Mendel was just one of those people leading up to the four who discovered the structure of DNA. The four people who discovered the structure of DNA built upon the EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY of others: At the time of this discoveryRead MoreDna Essay807 Words   |  4 PagesJames Watson. Watson and Crick discovered structure of deoxyribonucleic acid - a substance that contains all hereditary information. A few months after the historic statement in the pub came a careful publication of the work of two researchers in the journal Nature (Watson and Crick 738-740). The article ended with the assumption that the discovery of the structure of DNA could explain the copying mechanisms of genetic material. With the structure of DNA in hand, molecular biology became the fastestRead MoreCharles Crick And James Watson On The Structure Of The Complex Molecule Known As Dna Essay1293 Words   |  6 Pageswas awarded to Francis Crick and James Watson for formulating the structure of the complex molecule known as DNA. These discoveries were a direct result of the accumulation of many scientists’ earlier analyses and findings of the DNA. Before Watson and Crick had developed the double-heli cal structure of DNA, indication of this genetic material had been revealed around the 1850’s. During the century following the first evidence of DNA, subsequent researchers had been eagerly examining the physical andRead MoreDna Discovery Essay1006 Words   |  5 PagesAs the instructions for all living cells, DNA is a complex molecule and the basis of biology. The structure of DNA is the same for all organisms. (Fredholm, 2003) The journey to understanding DNA began in 1866 when Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel discovered the basic principles of genetics. Although the scientific community did not fully appreciate or credit his work in his lifetime, Mendel is now considered the father of genetics. Mendel’s advanced experiments with pea plants between 1856 and 1863