They discovered the double helix.
1953
James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA in 1953. Watson and Crick, along with Maurice Wilkins shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. The prize was for their discovery regarding the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its importance in the information transfer in living material.
Their results were published in April of 1953.
Watson and Crick proposed the double helix model of the DNA structure in 1953.
Francis Crick and James Watson proposed the double helix model of DNA in 1953. This model revolutionized our understanding of the structure of DNA and its role in heredity.
Watson was an American biologist and Crick was a British physicist, making them an unlikely pair due to their different scientific backgrounds. However, their complementary skills and shared interest in solving the structure of DNA brought them together to collaborate on groundbreaking research. Together, they were able to combine their expertise to make the historic discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.
The Watson and Crick scandal was when James Watson and Francis Crick were trying to figure out the 3 dimensional structure of DNA. They came very close to discovering it when they discovered a fellow scientist named Rosalind Franklin had the data they needed. Instead of collaborating with her, Watson and Crick broke into her lab, stole her data, quickly figured out the structure, and did not give her any credit. When they won the Nobel Prize in 1962, they mentioned many names but her name was not on the list. Later, Watson openly admitted that they stole from Rosalind Franklin.
Fame and fortune were likely not the primary motivation for Watson and Crick in their work on discovering the structure of DNA. Their main drive was likely scientific curiosity and the desire to make a groundbreaking discovery in the field of genetics. However, the recognition and awards that followed certainly played a role in solidifying their status as pioneers in the field.
It helped reveal the characteristic shape of a double helix
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James Watson was a young American biologist with a background in genetics who was full of energy and ideas, while Francis Crick was an older British physicist with a strong theoretical understanding of crystallography. Together, their complementary skills and perspectives allowed them to collaborate effectively and make breakthroughs in understanding the structure of DNA. Their different backgrounds and approaches made them both unlikely partners and a perfect team for this monumental discovery.
Watson and Crick were the first to figure out the shape of DNA, which turns out to be a double helix. They did not make it, they observed it.