⏰ when
When Was the DNA Double Helix Structure Discovered?
biologyscience
Quick Answer
James Watson and Francis Crick published the double helix model on 25 April 1953.
The Full Story
On 25 April 1953 Watson and Crick published a one-page paper in Nature describing DNA's double helix structure, famously noting it "has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism." Their model relied crucially on Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction images, particularly "Photo 51," and Maurice Wilkins' data. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize; Franklin, who died of cancer in 1958, was not included.
Key Facts
1.Photo 51, taken by Franklin, was shown to Watson without her knowledge.
2.The paper was only about 900 words long.
3.Franklin died at age 37, likely due to radiation exposure from her research.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Race for DNA — How Watson, Crick, and Franklin Unravelled Life's Code"