1953 : Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA
On this day in 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson
and Frances H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the
double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.
Though DNA--short for deoxyribonucleic acid--was discovered in 1869,
its crucial role in determining genetic inheritance wasn't
demonstrated until 1943. In the early 1950s, Watson and Crick were
only two of many scientists working on figuring out the structure of
DNA. California chemist Linus Pauling suggested an incorrect model at
the beginning of 1953, prompting Watson and Crick to try and beat
Pauling at his own game. On the morning of February 28, they
determined that the structure of DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a
spiral of two DNA strands, each containing a long chain of monomer
nucleotides, wound around each other. According to their findings, DNA
replicated itself by separating into individual strands, each of which
became the template for a new double helix.
In his best-selling book, The Double Helix (1968), Watson later
claimed that Crick announced the discovery by walking into the nearby
Eagle Pub and blurting out that "we had found the secret of life." The
truth wasn't that far off, as Watson and Crick had solved a
fundamental mystery of science--how it was possible for genetic
instructions to be held inside organisms and passed from generation to
generation.
Watson and Crick's solution was formally announced on April 25, 1953,
following its publication in that month's issue of Nature magazine.
The article revolutionized the study of biology and medicine. Among
the developments that followed directly from it were pre-natal
screening for disease genes; genetically engineered foods; the ability
to identify human remains; the rational design of treatments for
diseases such as AIDS; and the accurate testing of physical evidence
in order to convict or exonerate criminals.
Crick and Watson later had a falling-out over Watson's book, which
Crick felt misrepresented their collaboration and betrayed their
friendship. A larger controversy arose over the use Watson and Crick
made of research done by another DNA researcher, Rosalind Franklin,
whose colleague Maurice Wilkins showed her X-ray photographic work to
Watson just before he and Crick made their famous discovery. When
Crick and Watson won the Nobel Prize in 1962, they shared it with
Wilkins. Franklin, who died in 1958 of ovarian cancer and was thus
ineligible for the award, never learned of the role her photos played
in the historic scientific breakthrough.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1953 : Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52413
1982 : Getty Museum endowed
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6821
1993 : ATF raids Branch Davidian compound
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4796
1994 : First NATO Military Action
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4797
#########################################
On this day in 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson
and Frances H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the
double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.
Though DNA--short for deoxyribonucleic acid--was discovered in 1869,
its crucial role in determining genetic inheritance wasn't
demonstrated until 1943. In the early 1950s, Watson and Crick were
only two of many scientists working on figuring out the structure of
DNA. California chemist Linus Pauling suggested an incorrect model at
the beginning of 1953, prompting Watson and Crick to try and beat
Pauling at his own game. On the morning of February 28, they
determined that the structure of DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a
spiral of two DNA strands, each containing a long chain of monomer
nucleotides, wound around each other. According to their findings, DNA
replicated itself by separating into individual strands, each of which
became the template for a new double helix.
In his best-selling book, The Double Helix (1968), Watson later
claimed that Crick announced the discovery by walking into the nearby
Eagle Pub and blurting out that "we had found the secret of life." The
truth wasn't that far off, as Watson and Crick had solved a
fundamental mystery of science--how it was possible for genetic
instructions to be held inside organisms and passed from generation to
generation.
Watson and Crick's solution was formally announced on April 25, 1953,
following its publication in that month's issue of Nature magazine.
The article revolutionized the study of biology and medicine. Among
the developments that followed directly from it were pre-natal
screening for disease genes; genetically engineered foods; the ability
to identify human remains; the rational design of treatments for
diseases such as AIDS; and the accurate testing of physical evidence
in order to convict or exonerate criminals.
Crick and Watson later had a falling-out over Watson's book, which
Crick felt misrepresented their collaboration and betrayed their
friendship. A larger controversy arose over the use Watson and Crick
made of research done by another DNA researcher, Rosalind Franklin,
whose colleague Maurice Wilkins showed her X-ray photographic work to
Watson just before he and Crick made their famous discovery. When
Crick and Watson won the Nobel Prize in 1962, they shared it with
Wilkins. Franklin, who died in 1958 of ovarian cancer and was thus
ineligible for the award, never learned of the role her photos played
in the historic scientific breakthrough.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1953 : Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52413
1982 : Getty Museum endowed
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6821
1993 : ATF raids Branch Davidian compound
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4796
1994 : First NATO Military Action
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4797
#########################################
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