Friedrich Miescher, a Swiss chemist, was the first to identify DNA in the late 1860s. He isolated what he termed "nuclein" from the nuclei of human white blood cells. While he didn't understand its function at the time, his discovery laid the groundwork for future research that ultimately revealed DNA's role as the carrier of genetic information.
Key Figures in DNA's Discovery and Understanding:
- Friedrich Miescher (1869): First isolated DNA, initially calling it "nuclein." [Numerous sources confirm this, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and YourGenome.org].
- James Watson and Francis Crick (1953): Determined the double helix structure of DNA, building upon the work of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. [This is widely documented, including in Nature and Science History Institute resources].
- Rosalind Franklin: Made crucial X-ray diffraction images of DNA, contributing significantly to the understanding of its structure. [Her contributions are acknowledged in various biographies and scientific publications].
While Miescher's discovery marked the initial identification of DNA, Watson and Crick's elucidation of its structure revolutionized biology and our understanding of heredity. The subsequent development of DNA sequencing and other technologies further advanced our knowledge and practical applications of this vital molecule.
