The Discovery of DNA

In: STORIES In the Cell
The discovery of DNA
How was DNA first discovered and who discovered it?

Read on to find out...
It is a common misconception that James Watson and Francis
?
Crick discovered DNA? in the 1950s. In reality, DNA was
discovered decades before. It was by following the work of the
pioneers before them that James and Francis were able to come
to their ground-breaking conclusion about the structure of DNA
in 1953.
The story of the discovery of DNA begins in the 1800s…
The molecule of life
The molecule now known as DNA was first identified in the

1860s by a Swiss chemist called Johann Friedrich Miescher.
Johann set out to research the key components of white blood
cells? , part of our body’s immune system. The main source of
these cells? was pus-coated bandages collected from a nearby
medical clinic.
“ Johann called this mysterious

substance ‘nuclein’. Unbeknown to him,
Johann had discovered the molecular basis
of all life – DNA.
Johann carried out experiments using salt solutions to

understand more about what makes up white blood cells. He
noticed that, when he added acid to a solution of the cells, a
substance separated from the solution. This substance then
dissolved again when an alkali was added. When investigating
this substance he realised that it had unexpected properties
different to those of the other proteins? he was familiar with.
Johann called this mysterious substance ‘nuclein’, because he
believed it had come from the cell nucleus? . Unbeknown to
him, Johann had discovered the molecular basis of all life –
DNA. He then set about finding ways to extract it in its pure
form.
TO P I C S 
Swiss chemist, Friedrich Miescher.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Johann was convinced of the importance of nuclein and came
very close to uncovering its elusive role, despite the simple tools
and methods available to him. However, he lacked the skills to
communicate and promote what he had found to the wider
scientific community. Ever the perfectionist, he hesitated for
long periods of time between experiments before he published
his results in 1874. Before then he primarily discussed his
findings in private letters to his friends. As a result, it was many
decades before Johann Friedrich Miescher’s discovery was fully
appreciated by the scientific community.
For many years, scientists continued to believe that proteins

were the molecules that held all of our genetic material. They
believed that nuclein simply wasn’t complex enough to contain
all of the information needed to make up a genome. Surely, one
type of molecule could not account for all the variation seen
within species? ?
The four building blocks of DNA
Albrecht Kossel was a German biochemist who made great

progress in understanding the basic building blocks of nuclein.
KEY FACT
Albrecht Kossel isolated the five

nucleotide bases that are the building
blocks of DNA and RNA: adenine, cytosine,
guanine, thymine and uracil.
In 1881 Albrecht identified nuclein as a nucleic acid and
provided its present chemical name, deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA). He also isolated the five nucleotide? bases that are the
building blocks of DNA and RNA? : adenine (A), cytosine (C),
guanine (G), thymine (T) and uracil (U).
This work was rewarded in 1910 when he received the Nobel

Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
German biochemist, Albrecht Kossel.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
The chromosome theory of inheritance
In the early 1900s, the work of Gregor Mendel was rediscovered

and his ideas about inheritance began to be properly
appreciated. As a result, a flood of research began to try and
prove or disprove his theories of how physical characteristics
are inherited from one generation to the next.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, Walther Flemming, an

anatomist from Germany, discovered a fibrous structure within
the nucleus of cells. He named this structure ‘chromatin’, but
what he had actually discovered is what we now know as
chromosomes? . By observing this chromatin, Walther correctly
worked out how chromosomes separate during cell division,
also known as mitosis? .
“ Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri

first presented the idea that the genetic
material passed down from parent to child
is within the chromosomes.
The chromosome theory of inheritance was developed primarily

by Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri. They first presented the
idea that the genetic material passed down from parent to child
is within the chromosomes. Their work helped explain the
inheritance? patterns that Gregor Mendel had observed over a
century before.
Interestingly, Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri were actually

working independently during the early 1900s. Walter studied
grasshopper chromosomes, while Theodor studied roundworm
embryos. However, their work came together in a perfect union,
along with the findings of a few other scientists, to form the
chromosome theory of inheritance.
Walter Sutton (left) and Theodor Boveri (right) worked independently to come up with the
chromosome theory of inheritance.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Building on Walther Flemming’s findings with chromatin,

German embryologist Theodor Boveri provided the first
evidence that the chromosomes within egg and sperm cells are
linked to inherited characteristics. From his studies of the
roundworm embryo he also worked out that the number of
chromosomes is lower in egg and sperm cells compared to other
body cells.
American graduate, Walter Sutton, expanded on Theodor’s

observation through his work with the grasshopper. He found it
was possible to distinguish individual chromosomes undergoing
meiosis? in the testes of the grasshopper and, through this, he
correctly identified the sex chromosome? . In the closing
statement of his 1902 paper he summed up the chromosomal
theory of inheritance based around these principles:
Chromosomes contain the genetic material.

Chromosomes are passed along from parent to offspring.
Chromosomes are found in pairs in the nucleus of most
cells (during meiosis these pairs separate to form daughter
cells).
During the formation of sperm and eggs cells in men and
women, respectively, chromosomes separate.
Each parent contributes one set of chromosomes to its
offspring.
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This page was last updated on 2021-07-21
Related tags
 History  Structures  DNA discovery
FA C T S
FA C T S
What is DNA?
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. Like a
recipe book it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies.
S TO RI E S
Giants in genomics: James Watson
James Watson and his British colleague Francis Crick discovered the double helix structure of
DNA. For this fundamental finding James, Francis and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel
Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1962.
S TO RI E S
S TO RI E S
Giants in genomics: Francis Crick
Francis Crick and his American colleague, James Watson, discovered the double helix structure of
DNA. For this fundamental finding Francis, James and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel
Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1962.
FA C T S
What is a chromosome?
Chromosomes are bundles of tightly coiled DNA located within the nucleus of almost every cell in
our body. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
S TO RI E S
S TO RI E S
Unravelling the double helix
The discovery of the structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 is one of the
most famous scientific discoveries of all time.
S TO R I E S
Revealing DNA as the molecule of life
How was DNA discovered to be the carrier of genetic information? Read on to find

out...
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In: STORIES In the Cell

How was DNA first discovered and who discovered it?

It is a common misconception that James Watson and Francis

The story of the discovery of DNA begins in the 1800s…

The molecule of life

The molecule now known as DNA was first identified in the

“ Johann called this mysterious

Johann carried out experiments using salt solutions to

For many years, scientists continued to believe that proteins

The four building blocks of DNA

Albrecht Kossel was a German biochemist who made great

Albrecht Kossel isolated the five

This work was rewarded in 1910 when he received the Nobel

German biochemist, Albrecht Kossel.

The chromosome theory of inheritance

In the early 1900s, the work of Gregor Mendel was rediscovered

In the middle of the nineteenth century, Walther Flemming, an

“ Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri

The chromosome theory of inheritance was developed primarily

Interestingly, Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri were actually

Building on Walther Flemming’s findings with chromatin,

American graduate, Walter Sutton, expanded on Theodor’s

Chromosomes contain the genetic material.

Share Tweet Pin

This page was last updated on 2021-07-21

 History  Structures  DNA discovery

Giants in genomics: James Watson

Giants in genomics: Francis Crick

Unravelling the double helix

Revealing DNA as the molecule of life

How was DNA discovered to be the carrier of genetic information? Read on to find

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