Biology - Important Scientists and the Discovery of DNA

Griffith

studied pneumococcus bacteria by experimenting on mice; discovered that mice injected with dead S-strain and live R-strain got pneumonia and died; led to the discovery of bacterial transformation

Avery, McCarthy, and MacLeod

continued Griffith's experiments - purified different parts of bacteria; discovered transformation did not occur when DNA was destroyed; led to the discovery that DNA was the transforming factor (transformation: change in DNA of bacteria)

Hershey and Chase

studied bacteriophages - grew viruses in phosphorus + sulfur; found radioactive phosphorus in bacteria; discovered that bacteriophages are made of DNA and protein

Chargaff

discovered % of A=T and % of C=G; discovered base pairing and helped develop the double helix

Rosalind Franklin

studied DNA using X-rays; discovered strands in DNA are twisted around each other like coils + bases are stacked in the middle of molecules; helped develop the double helix structure

Watson and Crick

studied the structure of DNA - built 3-D models; discovered two strands wrap around each other like a spring; led to the discovery of the double helix structure, also used Franklin's X-ray without her permission

What are the names of the scientists involved with the discovery of the double helix structure?

Chargaff, (Rosalind) Franklin, Watson and Crick

What is the most important thing Hershey and Chase studied?

bacteriophages

What is a bacteriophage?

a bacteria-infecting virus