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DNA actually stands for "DeOxyRibo Nucleic Acid", which is an actual chemical name.

It was originally called "Nuclein" because the chemical structure was unknown. All that was known was that, whatever it was, it was contained within the nucleus of white blood cells. Therefore, it was named, "nuclein" by Friedrich Miescher in circa 1869-1871.

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Q: Why was DNA originally called nuclein?
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DNA was found by who?

A German Chemist, Friedrich Miescher, discovered DNA in 1869, only four years after Mendel's work was published. Miescher extracted a white substance from the nuclei of human cells and fish sperm. he called this substance "nuclein" because it seemed to be specifically associated with the nucleus.


What did friedrich miescher contribution to DNA story?

Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher in 1869, while studying proteins in the leucocytes, isolated DNA and found it quite different from other proteins. Since it was present in the nucleus, he termed this substance as nuclein.


Are proteins sometimes called the blueprints of life?

Originally, in the early 1900's, they were. However, with genetics becoming more popular, they found out DNA was the actual blueprint of life. but, DNA codes to build proteins, which controls the cell.


What two things credited with discovering structure of DNA?

In 1869, the physician Friedrich Miescher first isolated DNA. While examining the substance ofpus in surgical bandages, he observed a microscopic substance in the pus. He named it nuclein because he observed it in the nuclei of cells. Then, in 1919, Phoebus Levene realized that this "nuclein" was composed of a base, a sugar, and a phosphate nucleotide unit. Attempting to discern the structure of the DNA, Levene proposed that it was structured out of a string of nucleotides units that were linked together. He suggested that they were linked together through the phosphate groups. This conjecture was wrong however, because Levene's suggested a short chain. He further suggested that the bases repeated in a fixed order, which was incorrect.


A change in DNA is?

A change in an organism's DNA is called mutation.

Related questions

When does DNA discovered?

DNA was first isolated by the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher who, in 1869, discovered a microscopic substance in the pus of discarded surgical bandages. As it resided in the nuclei of cells, he called it "nuclein"


DNA was found by who?

A German Chemist, Friedrich Miescher, discovered DNA in 1869, only four years after Mendel's work was published. Miescher extracted a white substance from the nuclei of human cells and fish sperm. he called this substance "nuclein" because it seemed to be specifically associated with the nucleus.


What impact did Frederick Miescher discovering DNA have on the scientific world?

Frederick Miescher was responsible for discovery nuclein (later known as DNA) so bascially he started the search for what DNA was which led to discovering hereditary information and the secrets of life. So yes, a pretty important discovery!


How is plasmid DNA inserted into the cell where the DNA originally come from?

by transformation


What did friedrich miescher contribution to DNA story?

Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher in 1869, while studying proteins in the leucocytes, isolated DNA and found it quite different from other proteins. Since it was present in the nucleus, he termed this substance as nuclein.


What did Watson and Crick do after they discovered DNA?

Watson and Crick did not discover DNA - it had been isolated, then called nuclein, in 1869. What remained unknown was the structure of DNA - this is what Watson and Crick proposed. After they came up with a structure for DNA (1953), they went to 'The Eagle' pub in Cambridge, just round the corner from their lab, and Crick announced to the other customers that he and Watson had discovered 'the secret of life'. The Eagle now has a plaque commemorating the event. They also wrote a letter to Nature, though presumably not while at the pub. Watson and Crick did not discover DNA. What they did was examine the data collected by others, and propose a structure for the DNA molecule.


Where do the instructions for building a protein come from originally?

genes


Where do instructions for building a protein come from originally?

DNA


Are proteins sometimes called the blueprints of life?

Originally, in the early 1900's, they were. However, with genetics becoming more popular, they found out DNA was the actual blueprint of life. but, DNA codes to build proteins, which controls the cell.


What is non-coding DNA?

DNA which doesn't carry the information to make proteins. Originally thought to be "junk", but people are finding that it does have functions.


How many DNA molecule in a chromatid?

Each chromosome is originally made of one DNA molecule.


What two things credited with discovering structure of DNA?

In 1869, the physician Friedrich Miescher first isolated DNA. While examining the substance ofpus in surgical bandages, he observed a microscopic substance in the pus. He named it nuclein because he observed it in the nuclei of cells. Then, in 1919, Phoebus Levene realized that this "nuclein" was composed of a base, a sugar, and a phosphate nucleotide unit. Attempting to discern the structure of the DNA, Levene proposed that it was structured out of a string of nucleotides units that were linked together. He suggested that they were linked together through the phosphate groups. This conjecture was wrong however, because Levene's suggested a short chain. He further suggested that the bases repeated in a fixed order, which was incorrect.