Biology

The discovery of the DNA was a scientific achievement. This scientific break through was made from the contribution of several scientists. The structure of DNA was revealed in 1950s.  The scientists involved in this revelation were Francis Crick and Watson. DNA helix was discovered as a scientific discovery for providing hereditary information. DNA helix carries essential hereditary information between various generations.  The biological mystery about DNA was solved in the wake of 1960s (Watson, 2000).  The scientists involved included Francis, Watson and Maurice Wilkins. More light was shone on the revelation of DNA by carrying out several experiments.         

Exploration in the world of DNA was carried out by several scientists who carried out several experiments towards the essence behind DNA and its structure. Friedrich Miescher is believed to be behind various revelations in the discovery of DNA. Miescher did outstanding contribution in revealing the content of cells. He was behind the discovery of RNA and DNA. Mendel carried out various experiments which were directed towards the contents in the cell. He carried his experiments on peas. There was connectivity in his findings and Mieschers findings. Mendel identified the work of genes in peas by looking at the shape and color of peas.    

 It took several years before the connectivity between genes and nucleic acid could be revealed. The transfer of information from one generation to another was something unknown. The structure of DNA was unknown until in 1940s when various discoveries were made. The structure of DNA molecule consist of the four bases which include thymine, adenine, cytosine and guanine. The molecule of DNA was not known until various revelations were made. Several researches were carried out to arrive at the structure of DNA (Dahm, 2008). The DNA structure was discovered to be a double helix with the four bases being covered inside a phosphate backbone. It was synthesized that the double strands ran in opposite directions. The structure of DNA was identified through several experiments. Crick and Watson were very much concerned about the DNA structure. They made use of ball and stick models in ascertaining the structure of DNA. The model was built on sticks and balls. The model was ascertained to be wrong because of its orientation. There were other contributions toward the structure of DNA. Experiments were carried by several scientists in trying to configure the structure of DNA. Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind were amongst the scientists who carried out experiments in search of the structure of DNA. They made use of X-ray diffraction in order to deduce on DNA structure. Shining of X-rays on molecules, forms images which can be studied (Johnson, Losos, 2006). The image of the DNA molecule was reflected on a photographic film. The structure of the DNA molecule was identified by observing the patterns formed on the photographic film.       

Several scientists amongst them, Pauling were devoted in obtaining the structure of the DNA molecule. The theory of the triple helical structure put forth by Crick and Watson was wrong since it could not hold itself together. Pauling made contributions towards structure of molecules and chemical bonds in molecules. Franklin produced a photograph showing the helical structure of DNA molecule. Crick and Watson used Franklins photograph to deduce the structure of DNA molecule. They also looked in the base pairing of the molecule. The transfer of genetic material was attached to the specific pairing.  This provided light on the transfer of genetic information from one generation to another. Heredity occurs due to the copying mechanism of genetic material. This is achieved through specific base pairing occurring in DNA molecule.