Who discovered the double helix structure of DNA?

The double helix structure of DNA was first discovered in 1953 by Crick and Watson at the University of Cambridge. It appeared in April 1953 in the scientific paper where James Watson and Francis Crick presented the structure of the DNA helix, the molecule that carries genetic information from one generation to the other.

Nine years later, in 1962, they shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology (Medicine) with Maurice Wilkins, for solving one of the most important of all biological riddles about man and the structure of DNA. The modern era of biology began as human understanding of the double helix structure of DNA occurred.

This discovery by Crick and Watson has been described by some other biologists and Nobel laureates as the most important scientific discovery of the 20th century.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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22 Comments

Sean Philips

Rosalind Franklin

Mr.LaFaye

With all the responses I would add a bit of research. DNA was first identified in the late 1860s by Swiss chemist Friedrich Miescher. Rosalind Franklin is best known for her work on the X-ray diffraction images of DNA, particularly Photo 51, while at King's College London Rosalind. Franklin discovered the density of DNA and, more importantly, established that the molecule existed in a helical conformation. Her work to make clearer X-ray patterns of DNA molecules laid the foundation for James Watson and Francis Crick's suggestion that DNA is a double-helix polymer in 1953, which led to the discovery of the DNA double helix for which James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. Rosalind Franklin's data was critical to Crick and Watson's work. But it turns out that Franklin would not have been eligible for the prize—she had passed away four years before Watson, Crick, and Wilkins received the prize, and the Nobel is never awarded posthumously.

ninakamwene

I got it, but there is a debate about a lady who helped them and was never awarded anything. Men can you share the glory with a lady scientist?

Jude P

Rosalind Franklin was also part of the team. However she died before the Nobel prize was awarded and therefore could not be included as the award cannot be made posthumously.

Marcel Harrell

And Rosalind Franklin.

Georgia Kemp

I had a book on the woman involved in this - Rosalind Franklin.

Char

Debmalya Das, I agree

Char

Mr.LaFaye, thanks

Debmalya Das

Should have included Rosalind Franklin.

Katherine Casey

James Lovatt, It's a flawed question that begs correction.

Katherine Casey

Rosalind Franklin's discovery of the crystaline helix structure was crucial to the discovery as a whole. Rosalind Franklin didn't receive a share of the Nobel Prize because she had died and the Nobel isn't endowed posthumously.