James Watson and Francis Crick utilized the work and evidence of many different scientists in order to come to their final conclusion as to the structure of DNA; greatly using the work of Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin, and Linus Pauling.
The first time Watson is truly introduced to the world of X-ray diffraction pictures of DNA was when attending a lecture held by Wilkins. From this, he learns that genes are able to crystallize, so they therefore must have a regular and repeating structure (33). After having Pauling’s model for polypeptides described to him, Watson initially thought that DNA would be found to be an alpha helix, meaning that there would only be one peptide chain holding it together. However, it was soon determined that
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Crick and Cochran both completed calculations for the mathematics of the DNA structure, and by confirming their calculations, determined that both Linus’ model for polypeptides and their theory were correct (66-67). Then, with that information, Crick concluded that there were only a small number of solutions that lined up with both the Cochran-Crick theory and Rosy’s data. In knowing that the X-ray data showed that there was 2, 3, or 4 polynucleotide chains, they then only had to determine the angle and radius of the DNA strand (77). Further evidence showed that the backbone of DNA had to be sugar-phosphate in order to produce the crystalline diffraction patterns seen by Maurice and Rosy, and confirmed that there must be more than one chain in DNA due to the forces which were holding the chains together (80)(88). Then having to shift their focus to other work while secretly still aiding in their hunt for the structure of DNA, the used evidence of bacterial infection in a phage being caused by the injection of viral DNA, which was found via phage …show more content…
With the knowledge of J.M. Gulland and D. O. Jordan’s papers on acid base titrations of DNA, Watson knew that bases form hydrogen bonds to other hydrogens, and that these bonds were present in DNA (183). Watson then thought that DNA had 2 chains with identical base sequences held together with hydrogen bonds, but struggled with figuring out if replication would work perfectly indefinitely, as the wrong bases could bind together (184-188). However, this model was soon found to be incorrect, as thymine and guanine were in enol form in Watson’s model, but should have actually been in keto form (190). Then, with this error found, Watson began rearranging the bases within DNA to see if there were any formations that would not disrupt the structure of the polynucleotide chains as previous models had. After rearranging the bases, Watson discovered that A+T pairs with 2 hydrogen bonds and C+G pairs with at least 2 hydrogen bonds were the same shape, and thus did not bend the chains in a way that was not mathematically possible.
The molecule consisted of a double helix with phosphates, deoxyribose sugar molecules, and nitrogenous bases. If the spirals were split, the DNA could replicate, which explained why genes were transferred from parents to their children. Additionally, the order of compounds on the DNA indicated that there was a unique ‘code’ on each strand. Watson and Crick believed that this ‘code’ was translated into specific proteins. , ,
In April of 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published a game changing paper. It would blow the mind of the scientific community and reshape the entire landscape of science. DNA, fully knows as Deoxyribonucleic Acid is the molecule that all genes are made of. Though it is a relatively new term with regard to the age of science, the story of DNA and the path to its discovery covers a much broader timeframe and had many more contributors than James Watson and Francis Crick. After reading the paper the audience should have a better understanding of what DNA is, the most important experiments that contributed to its ultimate discovery and the names and contributions of the lesser-known scientists that helped Watson and Crick turn their idea
Benjamin Franklin’s inventions were as revolutionary as the century itself. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts January 17, 1706. Franklin grew up to be a great man who would help greatly in the creation of our nation. Although Ben Franklin is greatly known, not much attention is put into his great inventions; the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the mapping of the Gulf Stream where some of his inventions. Franklin’s inventions all had different impacts on the lives of people.
When you are building something you would most likely use a blueprint. A blueprint is the instructions to help the builder build his creation. DNA is like a blueprint for your body. DNA is like instructions to help you grow, survive, and reproduce. And thanks to James D. Watson’s discovery it revealed the understanding of living things in the means of structure and interaction molecules. Watson’s said in quote “It is necessary to be slightly underemployed if you want to do something significant.” James D. Watson was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 6, 1928. Watson is an intelligent and gifted man and helped discover the structure of DNA; his scientific knowledge as an American molecular biologist, zoologist, and geneticist attributed to his success
The first and primary contribution to solving the DNA structure was the relationship of Crick and Watson. Without their teamwork and determination, another scientist would have discovered the structure before them. One of Crick’s bigger contributions was discovering the gene is self-replicating. After talking with John Griffith, Crick came up with the idea that the gene is self-replicating, meaning the gene has the ability “to be exactly copied when the chromosome number doubles during cell division”(126). With further discussion with Griffith, Francis believed that DNA replication involved specific attractive forces between the flat surfaces of the bases (128). One of Watson’s major contributions was after seeing the B form of DNA by Franklin, Watson knew that the structure of DNA was two-chained and that led to the building of the model of DNA (171). Also through research, Watson became aware that adenine and thymine pair together and are held by two hydrogen bonds that were identical in shape to the guanine and cytosine pair held together by at least two hydrogen bonds (194). This discovery showed that the two chains of DNA are complementary to each other. With these individual contributions coming together, Watson and Crick successfully were able to piece together the structure of DNA.
	X-ray crystallography helped determined the three dimensional structure of DNA when Franklin returned to England. She became the first person to find the molecule¡¯s sugar-phosphate backbone while working with a team of scientists at King¡¯s College in London. Unfortunately, leadership misunderstandings and personality conflicts depreciated Franklin¡¯s effectivness in the laboratory. Maurice Wilkins, the laboratory¡¯s second in command, returned from a vacation expecting Franklin to work under him. Franklin came to the laboratory with the understanding that she would be researching alone. While Franklin was direct and decisive, Wilkins tended to be alluding and passive-aggressive. As Franklin made further advances in DNA research, Wilkins secretly shared her findings with the famous duo of Watson and Crick, who were then working at Cambridge. Franklin¡¯s discoveries fueled their research machine, allowing them to advance beyond others in the field. They would eventually publish on DNA structure in 1953. Due to discriminatory procedures at King¡¯s College, Franklin eventually left to become the lead researcher at London¡¯s Birbeck College--upon agreeing not to work on DNA. She furthered her studies in coal and made significant advances in virology. Franklin died in 1958 of ovarian cancer. She lived 37 monumentally significant years.
James D. Watson is a molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist. He is well known as one of the two men who discovered DNA. The other man who helped discover DNA is Francis Crick. Francis is a biologist, neurologist and a biophysicist.
The Double Helix has had many effects on the field of science. It produced trailblazing insights into the genetic code and protein synthesis. It created the Human Genome Project. It gave rise to modern molecular biology and revolutionized biochemistry. It spawned th...
James Watson, the co-discoverer of DNA, believes it to be the responsibility of science to address the
Tsou, J. A., Hagen, J. A., Carpenter, C. L., & Laird-Offringa, I. A. (2002, August 05). DNA
invincible. For though there are many of them likely, yet they were not certain. It might be sundry of the things feared might never befall; others by provident care
"The discovery of the structure by Crick and Watson, with all its biological implications, has been one of the major scientific events of this century." (Bragg, The Double Helix, p1) In the story of The Double Helix, James Watson tells of the road that led to the discovery of life's basic building block-DNA. This autobiography gives insight into science and the workings within a professional research laboratory that few members of society will ever be able to experience. It also gives the reader an idea of the reality of life for one scientist and how he struggled with the problem of DNA. However, the author's style is marked by his lack of objectivity and inclusion of many biased opinions and personal prejudices.
The Double Helix tells a tale of fierce competition, perseverance, and scientific innovation as we follow James Watson and his cohort Francis Crick on their quest to discover the secret to life, the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. Although already fascinated with DNA, Watson struggled with finding chemistry exciting enough to learn it in depth. He had studied birds in college and thereby managed to avoid any formal chemistry or physics courses. As he later pursued a PhD in biochemistry, he realized he could put it off no longer and attempted to learn organic chemistry at Indiana University. However, after a mishap in the lab, he was encouraged instead to study nucleic acid chemistry with Herman Kalckar in Copenhagen. There, his mind strayed from his work and he began doing unauthorized research in the lab of Ole Maaløe, studying phages. Herman stopped teaching Watson after going through a divorce with his wife, and sent Watson off to a scientific conference in Naples. Although he was bored by many of the lectures, Maurice Wilkins’s talk about X-ray diffraction fascinated Watson. He was struck by an X-ray diffraction picture of DNA that Maurice presented and was determined to study the acid. He later got to know more about Maurice’s colleague, Rosalind Franklin, who was proud, stubborn, and very difficult to work with. Watson greatly admired the lecture given by the renowned Linus Pauling, who had discovered the structure of the alpha-helix and was thought of as the leader in DNA research in the scientific world.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating molecule or material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent in chromosomes. It encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses. Simply put, DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. The discovery and use of DNA has seen many changes and made great progress over many years. James Watson was a pioneer molecular biologist who is credited, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The three won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their work (Bagley, 2013). Scientist use the term “double helix” to describe DNA’s winding, two-stranded chemical structure. This shape looks much like a twisted ladder and gives the DNA the power to pass along biological instructions with great precision.
...f the structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 that was extremely influential for future researchers. They determined that DNA was a double helix structure composed of base pairings, with a sugar phosphate backbone. This model explained how “genes can duplicate themselves [and] would eventually lead to our current understanding of many things, from genetic disease to genetic engineering” (Salem).