Discovery of DNA Double Helix

Genetics & Genomics 1953 Featured

Discoverers: James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin

Overview

The elucidation of the double helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, revealing how genetic information is physically encoded in all living organisms.

Significance

Provided the structural basis for understanding how DNA replicates and transmits genetic information, launching the era of molecular biology.

Methodology

X-ray crystallography of DNA fibres by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins (Photo 51) combined with model building by Watson and Crick at Cambridge.

Impact