The Unsung Scientist Behind the Building Blocks of DNA | Marie M. Daly

Marie Maynard Daly made significant contributions to genetics and medicine. Her research on atherosclerosis linked cholesterol to heart disease. She was the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. Daly's work on DNA identified key nucleic acids and disproved the tetranucleotide hypothesis. She also discovered the role of histones in gene expression, which is crucial for understanding how genetic information is translated into proteins. Her findings laid the groundwork for modern genetics and cell biology.

What was one of Marie Maynard Daly's early research contributions related to heart disease?

• She linked high cholesterol diets to arterial lesions.

• She discovered the structure of DNA.

• She developed a new method for DNA sequencing.

• She identified the role of histones in gene expression.

What significant discovery did Daly make about DNA bases?

• She found that DNA bases are not present in significant amounts.

• She discovered a new DNA base.

• She proved that DNA bases are not involved in genetic coding.

• She confirmed that adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine are the main DNA bases.

Which hypothesis did Daly's research on DNA bases disprove?

• The tetranucleotide hypothesis

• The theory of evolution

• The central dogma of molecular biology

• The double helix model

What role do histones play in gene expression according to Daly's research?

• They help determine which parts of the genome to read.

• They are responsible for DNA replication.

• They cause mutations in the genetic code.

• They are involved in protein synthesis.

What did Daly discover about the composition of histones?

• They are composed entirely of carbohydrates.

• They contain a mix of lysine and arginine.

• They are identical in all organisms.

• They are made up of nucleic acids.