Matthew Meselson

Matthew Meselson is an American biologist renowned for his research on DNA replication. He, along with Franklin Stahl, conducted a famous experiment in 1958 demonstrating that DNA copies itself through a semi-conservative process—meaning each new molecule contains one old strand and one new strand. Their work used labeled nitrogen isotopes and centrifugation techniques, providing crucial insight into genetic inheritance. Meselson’s contributions have deepened our understanding of molecular biology, influencing genetics, medicine, and biotechnology.