Tanner Rackow
DNA Assignment The scientists Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty all contributed to proving that DNA is genetic material. In their experiment involving treptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria that causes pneumonia, they observed a factor which they called the “transforming principle.” Mice were injected with a harmless version of the bacteria as well as an inactive lethal form. Despite the predictions of the mice remaining healthy, the mice soon succumbed to disease and died. The coatings of the two bacteria varied. The deadly one had a smooth outer coating that would be undetected by the mouse’s immune system, whereas the other form had a rough coating and was destroyed by the immune system. The scientists questioned …show more content…
Watson and Crick were extremely engaged in discovering the secrets behind DNA. They began to take on this task by immersing themselves in an abundant amount of fields of science including: genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, and X-ray crystallography. They utilized the experiments of others. One of those they utilized was the work of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. They had managed to X-ray images of DNA fibers that hinted towards a helical, 3-dimensional corkscrew-like shape. Their evidence showcased that two sugar-phosphate backbones were on the outside of the molecule, effectively solidifying Watson and Crick's thought that the backbones created a double helix. Another man informed them of the nucleic bases in most textbooks being incorrect. Through the use of all their gathered in formation they made a discovery. They had shown that in DNA, its shape helped it achieve its function. A double-stranded helical molecule had the ability to produce exact replicas and transfer genetic instructions. The men elaborated on the implications of the double-helical model, and by advancing the original hypothesis, they determined that the base sequences in DNA form a code that stores or shares genetic information. This discovery enabled the study of genetics to further develop in the future. Many advances on the understanding of disorders, transference of traits, and evolution resulted from cumulative work by many