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Miescher
Miescher is credited with the discovery of nucleic acid and later dividing it into acids and proteins. By using pus from surgical bandages and the isolation of lymph nodes, he discovered the nucleic acids in addition to a crude precipitate of DNA. He also realized the importance of nuclein (nucleic acid) for variation i a species. Without Miescher's dicoveries, advancements and knowledge we know today about DNA would be far less or nonexistent. -
Chargaff
Famous for the term "Chargaff's Rule", this scientist is responsible for three rules that determine that Adenine must equal Thymine, Cytosine must equal Guanine, and the number of purines must equal pyrimidines. These discoveries were made with help of fellow scientists, paper chromatography, and spectrophotometry. His contributions aided in the discovery of DNA structure and the balancing of bases.Later on, the reasoning behind his discoveries would be revealed with beter technology. -
Franklin
Though Rosalind Franklin ultimately lost in the race to detect DNA's structure, she contributed key information to the nucleic acid's form. With the help of Wilkins, a fellow scientist, and x-ray crystallography, Franklin collected pictures and data important to finding the structure of DNA. Without her work, Watson and Crick could not have made their discovery, one that contributed to our common knowledge and advancements in genetic material to this day. -
Hershey & Chase
Hershey and Chase are credited with determining that only DNA is responsible for the carrying of genetic material,not protein. By working with bacteriophage,a blender, and isotopes, changes in genetic material of the specimen showed that DNA of the bacteria determined changes in traits instead of the layer of protein. Before this contribution, it was speculated that DNA wasn't solely responsible for genetic material. Because of the news, modern science saw the importance of DNA to gene research. -
Watson & Crick
Though Franklin came close to solving the puzzle, Watson and Crick are credited with the discovery of DNA's double helix structure. By using X-Ray data and cardboard models for experimentation, they discovered how DNA had a unique, anti-parallel structure and base pairing that proved Chargaff's contributions to be true. Later on, both men went on to study RNA with colleagues. Their depiction of the DNA structure is an integral part of continued research of genetic material. -
Meselson & Stahl
They created the "most beautiful" experiment in the world and proved the semi-conservative model to be correct. By using weighty nitrogen-based substances to monitor the dividing DNA , the scientists determined that DNA replication is semi-conservative and results in half of the strand coming from each parent cell. The ratio of weighted to unweighted showed only one model could be true.Without the discovery, genetic variations like disease and further research would be behind what it is today.
