Discovery of Chemical Structure of DNA – FEBRUARY 28, 1953

On this day, February 28, 1953, James Watson and Frances Crick announced their discovery of chemical structure of DNA. It is important to recognize DNA molecules as source of biological information, genetic information, or innate knowledge that enables living cells to perform a variety of guided, sequential, purposeful, and goal-oriented ‘immanent’ actions. It helps me to define the term ‘Life’ as,  “Life is Knowledge in Action.”

At King’s College London, Rosalind Franklin obtained images of DNA using X-ray crystallography, an idea first broached by Maurice Wilkins. Franklin’s images allowed James Watson and Francis Crick to create their famous two-strand, or double-helix, model.

In 1962 Watson (b. 1928), Crick (1916–2004), and Wilkins (1916–2004) jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their 1953 determination of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Wilkins’s colleague Franklin (1920–1958), who died from cancer at the age of 37, was not so honored. The reasons for her exclusion have been debated and are still unclear. There is a Nobel Prize stipulation that states “in no case may a prize amount be divided between more than three persons.” The fact she died before the prize was awarded may also have been a factor, although the stipulation against posthumous awards was not instated until 1974.

However, DNA molecules do not acquire energy from an external source. Cytoplasm or Protoplasm has power called ‘Nutrition’ with which it attracts matter found in external environment of cell. For this reason, Viruses that are basically constituted by DNA or RNA molecules are not capable of independent existence and their living functions such as replication demand assistance from a living host cell.

DNA is an important biomolecule for it directs protein synthesis and yet it does not qualify as vital, animating principle found in all living organisms.

Rudra Narasimham Rebbapragada

Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162 USA

LIFE IS KNOWLEDGE IN ACTION

Feb 28

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

This Day In History: 02/28/1953 – DNA Structure Discovered

On February 28th many historical events occurred. These events are recapped by Russell Mitchell in this video clip from “This Day in History”. The discovery of DNA by James Watson and Frances Crick being a major one for the scientific community. Not only was DNA discovered on this day, but the Republican Party was founded in Wisconsin. The well-known album Thriller by Michael Jackson won eight Emmy awards as well.

Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA

On this day in 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Frances H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.
Though DNA–short for deoxyribonucleic acid–was discovered in 1869, its crucial role in determining genetic inheritance wasn’t demonstrated until 1943. In the early 1950s, Watson and Crick were only two of many scientists working on figuring out the structure of DNA. California chemist Linus Pauling suggested an incorrect model at the beginning of 1953, prompting Watson and Crick to try and beat Pauling at his own game. On the morning of February 28, they determined that the structure of DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a spiral of two DNA strands, each containing a long chain of monomer nucleotides, wound around each other. According to their findings, DNA replicated itself by separating into individual strands, each of which became the template for a new double helix. In his best-selling book, The Double Helix (1968), Watson later claimed that Crick announced the discovery by walking into the nearby Eagle Pub and blurting out that “we had found the secret of life.” The truth wasn’t that far off, as Watson and Crick had solved a fundamental mystery of science–how it was possible for genetic instructions to be held inside organisms and passed from generation to generation.
Watson and Crick’s solution was formally announced on April 25, 1953, following its publication in that month’s issue of Nature magazine. The article revolutionized the study of biology and medicine. Among the developments that followed directly from it were pre-natal screening for disease genes; genetically engineered foods; the ability to identify human remains; the rational design of treatments for diseases such as AIDS; and the accurate testing of physical evidence in order to convict or exonerate criminals.
Crick and Watson later had a falling-out over Watson’s book, which Crick felt misrepresented their collaboration and betrayed their friendship. A larger controversy arose over the use Watson and Crick made of research done by another DNA researcher, Rosalind Franklin, whose colleague Maurice Wilkins showed her X-ray photographic work to Watson just before he and Crick made their famous discovery. When Crick and Watson won the Nobel Prize in 1962, they shared it with Wilkins. Franklin, who died in 1958 of ovarian cancer and was thus ineligible for the award, never learned of the role her photos played in the historic scientific breakthrough.

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