The Discovery of DNA
The discovery of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, better known as DNA, has drastically changed the way the scientific world looks at the blueprint of life. DNA is a type of molecule responsible for hereditary information which is passed from parent to offspring and consists of genetic instructions responsible for the growth and function of all living organisms.
The discovery of DNA has indeed helped revolutionize life sciences and has also enabled us to better understand the effects of inherited traits and diseases on human lives. From the understanding of the structure of DNA, scientists have been able to develop new treatments for diseases such as cancer, as well as new ways of predicting and diagnosing genetic disorders. In this article, we will discuss the history of DNA, the scientists responsible for its discovery, and the importance of the discovery.
The History of DNA
DNA was first studied in the late 1800s. Swiss biologist Friedrich Miescher first discovered the molecule in 1869 while studying the nucleus of white blood cells. He named the molecule “nuclein” after the Latin word “nucleus”, which means nucleus, and described it as a “substance of high molecular weight”. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s that scientists were able to understand the importance of DNA and its structure.
The Scientists Behind the Discovery
The discovery of DNA is often credited to three scientists: Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and Francis Crick. In 1953, these three scientists were independently and simultaneously researching the structure of DNA at the University of Cambridge in England. Their discoveries laid the foundation for our current understanding of DNA.
Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin is oftentimes considered the unsung hero of the discovery of DNA. She was a British chemist and the first woman to obtain a Doctorate of Science degree from Cambridge University. Her research focused on the nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and she was one of the first scientists to use X-ray crystallography to obtain images of large molecules. She is credited with providing Watson and Crick with crucial evidence in the form of a key photograph known as “Photo 51”, which helped them determine the structure of DNA.
James Watson and Francis Crick
At the same time Rosalind Franklin was researching nucleic acids, James Watson and Francis Crick were also doing their own research on the structure of DNA. They had collaborated since 1951 and published the first paper in Nature concerning the shape of DNA in 1953.
In 1953, using Franklin’s photograph, Watson and Crick proposed the structure of DNA which turned out to be correct. It was a double helix structure consisting of two strands of DNA coiled around each other. Each strand consists of a series of pairs of nucleotides, also known as bases, which are linked together to form the helix.
The Importance of the Discovery of DNA
Prior to the understanding of the structure of DNA, scientists believed that proteins provided the basis of genetic information. With the discovery of the structure of DNA, they now knew that DNA was the molecular basis of inheritance and that it carried the genetic code of an organism.
The discovery of DNA has enabled scientists to identify diseases caused by genetic mutations, understand why certain traits are passed down from one generation to the next, and develop treatments for genetic diseases. DNA sequencing has also enabled us to study gene expression and the regulation of genetic information.
In addition, the discovery of DNA has led to the development of forensic science. It has enabled scientists to collect, analyze, and compare genetic evidence from crime scenes to help identify suspects and match victims with perpetrators.
The discovery of DNA has certainly revolutionized the way we look at the blueprint of life. Not only has it enabled us to better understand the genetic basis of inherited traits and diseases, but it has also enabled us to develop treatments for both. The discovery of the structure of DNA has had an immense impact on not only life sciences but on our everyday lives as well.
