dna scientists

Fredrich Meischer

Discovered nuclein (DNA) in pus cells from bandages in 1869. First person to identify DNA as a unique substance in cells

Franklin and Wilkins

Used X-ray diffraction to study DNA’s structure. Franklin’s famous photo 51 showed Dna’s double helix structure, helping watson and crick

Beadle and Tatum

Proposed “one gene-one enzyme” hypothesis, showing genes control the production of specific enzymes. Worked with mold

Watson and Crick

Built the first accurate model of DNA’s double helix in 1953, showing how base pairing allows DNA replication

Frederick Griffith

DDiscovered bacterial transformation in 1928. Harmless bacteria became deadly when mixed with heat-killed deadly bacteria.

Meselson and Stahl

Proved that DNA replication is semi-conservative (new strand +old strand) using nitrogen isotopes.

Avery, MacLeod, McCarty

Showed that DNA is the transforming principle (not protein) in bacteria. Confirmed griffiths findings ion 1944

Chargaff

Discovered base pairing rules in DNA, establishing that A=T and C=G. (chargaffs rules)