The secret of life was revealed in a simple spiral 73 years ago
In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick identified the double helix structure of DNA, finally revealing how genetic information is stored and passed down through every living organism on Earth.
The discovery of the double helix transformed our understanding of biology by showing that life is written in a sophisticated chemical code. Using X-ray diffraction data captured by Rosalind Franklin, researchers visualized the spiral ladder that holds the instructions for building everything from bacteria to blue whales.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 4-question quiz