Thread: Helix model of DNA

Hello. If anyone here has some spare time would you mind answering a few questions for me?

What scientists contributed to the discovery of the double helix model of DNA?

What further discoveries have been made about DNA?

Thanks

Effervescent

QUOTES FROM WIKI: James D. Watson and Francis Crick, who, with the work of Rosalind Franklin, discovered the structure of the DNA molecule in the 1950s, for which they were awarded the 1962 Nobel prize award, along with Maurice Wilkins. Their work became the basis for the Human Genome Project. Watson went on to Head the Cold Spring Harbor Research Facility raising major funds for basic science research. Dr. Watson was noted for administrative successes and named to the head of the Human Genome Project.

np =] im bored anyway

Thanks so much iLOVEscience

Do you know anything about discoveries made by DNA? The only thing I can really think of is DNA in crime investigation.

Effervescent

cloning? genetic enginering?

finding genetical diseases, fixing them etc

If you mean some more specific research and things being done, here are some examples:

New malaria drug by removing genetic material of the E. coli bacterium and replacing it with genes from wormwood and yeast.

DNA discoveries opens doors to genetic diseases that are passed down from your parents and grandparents. You can tell if you are more succeptable to certain diseases and take measures to prevent it.

DNA explains why you get skin cancer in the sun.

Also advances in making things like Insulin much cheaper and more easily obtainable by for example cutting out the gene for Insulin and inserting into the zygote of a sheep to create recombinant DNA in it's nucleus. The gene would then be activated in the mammary glands of the sheep and you could extract the insulin from the milk

Originally Posted by Effervescent

Hello. If anyone here has some spare time would you mind answering a few questions for me?

What scientists contributed to the discovery of the double helix model of DNA?

What further discoveries have been made about DNA?

Thanks

Effervescent

if this is for a college/university question make sure that you mention that:

1) the double stranded nature of DNA means that A can only pair with T and G only with C. This immediately shows you how DNA replication can take place as each strand can act as the template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dna_replication)

2) Also the four DNA bases were immediately recognised as the means by which DNA strand could encode genetic information for protein synthesis. There are 20 amino acids and a triplet of 3 DNA bases could have 64 possible variations (a doublet could only code 4x4 = 16 different amino acids). The genetic code was determined almost immediately after the structure of DNA was determined (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_code)

The subsequent inventions of DNA cloning, DNA amplification (PCR reaction) and DNA sequencing have allowed us to sequence our genome and identify all the genes (about 20,000-25,000 in humans). This has allowed us to identify many disease-causing mutations. And has allowed us to clone important genes into other cells to prepare important proteins for medical use (insulin, human growth hormone, interferon-gamma etc).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_cloning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dna_sequencing