Who discovered DNA?

In the late 1800s, Swiss biologist Frederich Miescher discovered DNA. But it took nearly a century for scientists to figure out the structure of the DNA molecule and grasp its significance in life. Scientists questioned which molecule held life's biological blueprints for many years. Most people assumed DNA was too basic a molecule to serve such an important function. Instead, they contended that proteins were more likely to perform this critical job due to their greater complexity and larger range of forms.

The significance of DNA was recognized in 1953 as a result of the efforts of James Watson*, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin. The scientists discovered the double helix structure of DNA by researching X-ray diffraction patterns and developing models. This shape allows DNA to convey biological information from generation to generation.