Watson and Crick

Definition

Watson and Crick are the scientists who discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1953. Their model explained how genetic information is stored and replicated.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Watson and Crick used X-ray diffraction images produced by Rosalind Franklin to develop their DNA model.
2. They proposed that DNA strands are antiparallel, running in opposite directions.
3. The double helix consists of two sugar-phosphate backbones with nitrogenous bases paired inside (A-T and G-C).
4. Their discovery was pivotal in understanding genetic inheritance and molecular biology.
5. In 1962, Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on DNA.

Review Questions

• What key contribution did Watson and Crick make to the understanding of DNA?
• Which technique provided critical evidence for Watson and Crick's DNA model?
• What base pairing rules did Watson and Crick propose for the DNA structure?

Related terms

Rosalind Franklin: A scientist whose X-ray diffraction images were critical to discovering the DNA double helix.

Antiparallel:

Describes how the two strands of DNA run in opposite directions.

Nucleotide:

The basic building block of DNA, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.