History of the DNA Molecule
Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins (early 1950’s)
- using x-ray crystallography they discovered the
helical nature of DNA
- observed an “X” shape
Erwin Chargaff (1950’s)
- noted that in any DNA sample the number of adenine
molecules equals the number of thymine molecules,
and the number of cytosine molecules equals guanine
James Watson and Francis Crick (1953)
- using information from the above scientists they put
together the final accepted shape of the DNA
molecule
o Note: in 1962 Watson, Crick and Wilkins were
given the Nobel Prize for their work
o Rosalind Franklin was not included because she
died in 1958 and only living scientists can
receive the award