Watson-Crick
DNA structure discoverers
Watson-Crick describes the model of DNA structure proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953—the famous double helix with paired bases.
Watson-Crick base pairing refers to the specific hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine, and between guanine and cytosine: The mutation disrupted Watson-Crick pairing at that position.
molecular
Nucleotide hydrogen bond matching
- double helixTwo intertwined spirals
- complementaryMutually supplying lacks
- hydrogen bondsIntermolecular polar attractions
- antiparallelParallel but opposite-facing
discovery
Mid-century year
- CambridgeUniversity city, two countries
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
- genetic codeCodon-to-amino-acid mapping rules
- model buildingCreating small-scale replicas
biographical
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- The Double HelixDNA discovery memoir
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
eponymous
Incompatible pairings
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- proofreadingChecking text for mistakes
base pairing
Nucleotide hydrogen bond matching
- double helixTwo intertwined spirals
- complementaryMutually supplying lacks
- hydrogen bondsIntermolecular polar attractions
1953
Mid-century year
- CambridgeUniversity city, two countries
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
- genetic codeCodon-to-amino-acid mapping rules
Francis Crick
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- The Double HelixDNA discovery memoir
- memoirWritten personal recollection
controversy · ambition · partnership · brainstorming · experimental data
mismatches
Incompatible pairings
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- proofreadingChecking text for mistakes