Which scientists are credited with discovering the structure of DNA double helix and helping explain how DNA replicates?

Which scientists are credited with discovering the structure of DNA double helix and helping explain how DNA replicates?

• A. Watson and Crick
• B. Mendel
• C. Leeuwenhoek
• D. McClintock

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that DNA has a double-helix shape with two long strands, each made of a sugar-phosphate backbone and paired bases inside. The key insight is that bases pair specifically: adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine. This complementary pairing means each strand can serve as a template to build its partner, making accurate copying during cell division possible. Watson and Crick proposed this model in 1953, drawing on Chargaff’s base-pairing rules and Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray data, and they also highlighted that the strands run in opposite directions, which matters for how enzymes copy DNA. Their model linked the structure directly to a plausible replication mechanism, and later experiments confirmed the semi-conservative nature of replication linked to this pairing.

The main idea is that DNA has a double-helix shape with two long strands, each made of a sugar-phosphate backbone and paired bases inside. The key insight is that bases pair specifically: adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine. This complementary pairing means each strand can serve as a template to build its partner, making accurate copying during cell division possible. Watson and Crick proposed this model in 1953, drawing on Chargaff’s base-pairing rules and Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray data, and they also highlighted that the strands run in opposite directions, which matters for how enzymes copy DNA. Their model linked the structure directly to a plausible replication mechanism, and later experiments confirmed the semi-conservative nature of replication linked to this pairing.