DNA & Genetics Important Figures

Gregor Mendel

Augustinian monk and botanist whose experiments in breeding garden peas led to his eventual recognition as founder of the science of genetics (1822-1884)

Thomas Morgan

Bred fruit flies, and supported the the theory of chromosomal inheritance by finding that a specific gene is carried on a specific chromosome

Why did Thomas Morgan breed fruit flies?

Fruit flies have short generation turnover and can have lots of offspring

George Beadle & Edward Tatum

Discovered that our genetic code govern the formation of enzymes; moldy bread

Barbara McClintock

Discovered the ability of genes to change positions on the chromosome (Transposons); studied maize

Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase

Determined that genetic DNA, not protein, was the genetic material using experiments about bacteriophages; The radioactive DNA penetrated the bacterial wall showing that the DNA, not the protein, could direct the hosts cell to make new viruses

Hamilton Smith

Discovered the first site-specific restriction enzyme; bacteria phage

Werner Arber

Discovered that some bacteria had enzymes that fought back against the virus by cutting its vital DNA into pieces; Restriction enzymes

James Watson and Francis Crick

discovered the structure of DNA (double helix)

Marshall Nirenberg and Heinrich Matthaei

Observed triplets coding for amino acids; deciphered the genetic code

Alec Jefferys

Discovered inherited variation in DNA; Developed techniques for fingerprinting

Andrew Fire and Craig Mello

Discovered RNA interference; roundworms