Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid
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TL;DR
The determination in 1953 of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), with its two entwined helices and paired organic bases, was a tour de force in X-ray crystallography and opened the way for a deeper understanding of perhaps the most important biological process.
Abstract
The determination in 1953 of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), with its two entwined helices and paired organic bases, was a tour de force in X-ray crystallography. But more significantly, it also opened the way for a deeper understanding of perhaps the most important biological process. In the words of Watson and Crick: "It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing that we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material." [Obituary of Francis Crick: Nature 430, 845-847 (2004); obituary of Maurice Wilkins: Nature 431, 922 (2004)]