1953 experiment

The 1953 experiment by James Watson and Francis Crick determined the structure of DNA, revealing it as a double helix — two strands twisted together. This discovery explained how genetic information is stored and replicated in living organisms. Using X-ray diffraction images from Rosalind Franklin and other data, they identified the pairing of nitrogen bases (adenine with thymine, guanine with cytosine) that form the rungs of the DNA ladder. Their work provided a foundational understanding of genetics, enabling advances in biology, medicine, and biotechnology.