How DNA’s Structure Was Discovered Flashcards

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In the early 1950s, what were scientists trying to find out about DNA?

They wanted to discover its 3D structure to explain how it stores and copies genetic information.

Which two scientists are most famous for working out DNA’s structure?

James Watson and Francis Crick, who built the first correct model of DNA.

In what year did Watson and Crick publish their model of DNA?

They published their model in 1953 in the science journal Nature.

What overall shape did Watson and Crick propose for the DNA molecule?

They said DNA is a double helix, like a twisted ladder or spiral staircase.

Who was Rosalind Franklin and what technique did she use to study DNA?

She was a scientist who used X-ray diffraction to take detailed images of DNA fibres.

What is “Photograph 51” and why was it important?

It is one of Franklin’s clear X-ray images of DNA, which showed a pattern proving DNA is a helix.

What did Chargaff’s results about the bases in DNA show?

He found that in DNA, the amount of adenine equals thymine and the amount of guanine equals cytosine.

How did Chargaff’s findings help Watson and Crick build their DNA model?

They suggested that A always pairs with T and G always pairs with C inside the double helix.

How did Maurice Wilkins help in the discovery of DNA’s structure?

He also used X-rays to study DNA at King’s College London and shared results that helped Watson and Crick.

Why do some people think Rosalind Franklin did not get fair credit at first?

Her X-ray data were crucial, but she was not named on the Nobel Prize, which went to Watson, Crick and Wilkins in 1962.