The Discovery of DNA's Structure

What was the central mystery regarding inheritance in the early 20th century?

• How proteins are synthesized

• How genetic information is stored and transmitted

• How traits are selected

• How traits are modified

What qualities were scientists looking for in the molecule responsible for inheritance?

• Ability to replicate

• Solubility in water

• Stability and mutability

• Ability to mutate

What was James Watson's nationality?

• German

• French

• American

• British

What was the key problem Watson and Crick aimed to solve?

• The mechanism of photosynthesis

• The process of mitosis

• The structure of the gene

• The structure of proteins

Why was protein initially considered a better candidate than DNA for genetic material?

• Simpler structure

• More types of proteins

• Easier to study

• More stable

What technique was being perfected to solve molecular structures at the time?

• Electron microscopy

• X-ray crystallography

• Nuclear magnetic resonance

• Chromatography

What was the relationship between Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins?

• Competitors

• Contentious colleagues

• Collaborators

• Mentor and mentee

What incorrect model did Watson and Crick initially propose?

• Triple helix

• Single helix

• Double helix with bases outside

• Linear chain

What did Linus Pauling incorrectly propose about DNA's structure?

• Single strand

• Triple helix

• Quadruple helix

• Double helix

What crucial insight did Watson gain from Franklin's photo 51?

• The placement of bases

• The sugar-phosphate backbone

• The helical structure

• The number of chains