Whose discovery is the shape of the DNA double helix?
Quick Answer
The double-helix structure of DNA is most closely associated with James Watson and Francis Crick, who published their model in 1953. Their work relied heavily on data from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins.
The Full Story
James Watson and Francis Crick proposed the double-helix model of DNA in 1953. Their paper explained how genetic information could be stored and copied through complementary base pairing. Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images, especially Photo 51, provided crucial evidence for the structure. Maurice Wilkins also contributed key experimental work. The discovery revolutionized biology and medicine, and Watson, Crick, and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in 1962.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The twisted ladder that unlocked modern genetics."