Class Notes On The Main Characters from the Race for the Double Helix Slides created by Honors Genetics Classes

James D. Watson April 6, 1928 – Nationality: English, Scottish, Irish

Educational Background James received a B.Sc and a Ph.D in Zoology from Indiana University As a boy James Watson spent eight years at Horace Mann Grammar school in Chicago, and two years at South Shore High School In the summer of 1943, James received a scholarship to the University of Chicago In 1950, James spent a year in Copenhagen, as a member of the National Research Council He began work at the Cavendish laboratory in October of 1952 For two years Waston attended the California Institute of Technology as a Senior Research Fellow in Biology In 1955 Watson returned to Cavendish and worked with crick, publishing several papers on the principals of virus construction In 1956 Watson began working at Harvard, and is still involved there

Watson and Crick

Personal Life James Watson was born on April 6, 1928 in Chicago, the city where he lived for the beginning of his life Watson had a deep interest in bird watching and he did so throughout most of his life Watsons interest in bird watching lead to an even deeper interest in understanding genetics James married former Elizabeth Lewis and had two sons, named Rufus and Duncan Watsons recreational activities were walking and bird watching, both which he still enjoys doing

Research Focus First effort in constructing DNA model in 1951 (was unsatisfactory) Second effort based upon experimental evidence of the nucleic acid literature which resulted in the proposal of complementary double helical configuration At the same time, Watson was investigating the structure of TMV(a virus), using X-ray diffraction techniques. The purpose of this was to determine if its sub-units were helically arranged Watson and Crick suggested that the model was made of two chains of nucleotides, each in a helix, but biparallel. Matching base pairs interlocked in the middle of the double helix to keep the distance between the chain constant Watson worked on the Human Genome Project from 1988 to 1992 Then he continued his research on Cold Springs Harbor before becoming the head of the institution in 1994

Watson and Crick with DNA model

Francis Harry Compton crick Born on June 8 th, 1916, at Northampton, England Oldest child of Harry Crick and Annie Elizabeth Wilkins. He has one brother, A.F. Crick, who is a doctor in New Zealand. During the war he worked as a scientist for the British Admiralty, mainly in connection with magnetic and acoustic mines. He left the Admiralty in 1947 to study biology.

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Background Continued Crick was forced to stop because of the war in He began working for the British Admiralty with magnetic and acoustic mines. In 1947, he left to study Biology.

Scientific Characteristics Watson is wifty. Although he is very dedicated to finding the structure of the model of DNA his work didnt compare to that of Rosalind Franks. Watson went around with crick and collected information to deduce the final structure of DNA Watson enjoyed his job and felt joy in doing his experiments, but he also enjoyed having a good time at social gatherings and such.

Watson receiving his Nobel prize

Thanks to financial help by his family and a studentship from the Medical Research Council, Crick began working in Strangeways Research Laboratory. Shortly after he joined the Medical Research Council Unit and studied molecular biology. He eventually obtained a Ph.D in 1954 after his studies with polypeptides and proteins. In 1947, Crick knew no biology, no organic chemistry, and practically no crystallography, so much of the next years was spent learning these subjects. Throughout the next few years, Crick worked with W. Cochran and V. Vand, figuring out the general theory of x-ray diffraction of the helix as he grew more knowledgeable in these fields.

Educational Background Francis Harry Compton Crick was educated at Northampton Grammer School and Mill Hill School, London. He furthered his education on physics at University College, London, where he obtained a B.Sc. In He began doing research for a Ph.D. under Prof E. N. da C. Andrade.

Because of his education, experience, and hard work, Francis Harry Compton Crick was able to be apart of a team who helped discover one of the largest mysteries of life. That discovery was DNA. Adenine Cytosine Guanine Thymine

Crick began working at Cambridge learning Biology, organic chemistry, and x-ray diffraction technology. He was investigating the structure of proteins. When Crick and Watson joined each other they began to make models of DNA based on previous research and they used Franklins x- ray diffraction technology. Crick eventually created a correct model for DNA along with Watson and was awarded the Nobel prize in 1962.

A critical influence in Cricks career was his friendship with J.D Watson, which lead to the proposal of the double helical structure for DNA and the general theory for the structure of viruses. Crick has also collaborated with many scientists such as A. Rich, S. Brenner, and D.R. Davies on his advances in the field of genetic code, structure of polyadenylic acid, and other elements of biochemistry helping to shape and perfect his scientific characteristics.

Cricks original interest lied in Physics, which he studied at University College in London, working towards his masters degree. His studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the war in During the the war, Crick worked as a scientist for the British Admiralty, mainly in connection wit magnetic and acoustic mines. In 1947, however, he left the Admiralty to study biology.

In 1941 she graduated from Cambridge Then she started working on her doctorate. Her focus was on charcoal and coal, and how to use them efficiently. She published five papers on the subject and had her PhD before she was 26 years old.

Rosalind Franklin Satisfaction doesnt come from knowing the solution. It comes from knowing why its the solution.

Rosalinds Structure of DNA Form B vs. Form A Wet vs. Dry Where are the phosphates located? Helix or no helix?

Coal: A Valuable Natural Resource Resource management information High-strength carbon fibers Energy production with the help of graphite Classification system

Structural Virology Tobacco Mosaic Virus X-ray diffraction contribution to immunology Polio virus

X-Ray Diffraction What is X-Ray Diffraction? The most beautiful X-ray photographs of any substance ever taken (J.D. Bernal)

Education The all girls school, that she attended in London, taught her chemistry and physics. At the age of 15 she decided she wanted to be a scientist. In 1938 she passed the examination for Cambridge University. Her father refused to pay because he didnt approve of university education for women. Her mother and aunt stepped in and they said they would pay for it.

1958 Rosalind found out that she had ovarian cancer and continued to work. She went through three operations and experimental chemotherapy. She had one remission that lasted 10 months. She worked up until a few weeks before her death at the age of 37.

Maurice Wilkins Born on December 15, 1916 Nationality: New Zealand, British, and Irish

Personal Life Noble Prize Winners, December 1962 Maurice Wilkins, Max Perutz, Francias Crick, John Steinbeck, James Watson, and John Kendrew

Maurice Hugh Fredrick Wilkins was born at Pongaroa, New Zealand on December 15 th, 1916 after his parents left Ireland. His father, Edgar Henry Wilkins was a doctor in the School Medical Service and was very interested in research but had little opportunity for it.

Wilkins was elected F.R.S. in 1959, given the Albert Lasker Award with Watson and Crick by the American Public Health Association in 1960, and made Companion of the British Empire in 1962.

He married Patricia Ann Chidgey in 1959 and they have two children. They have a daughter named Sarah, and a son George. He finds recreation in collecting sculptures and in gardening.

-At the age of 6 he was brought to England and educated at King Edwards school in Birmingham. -He studied Physics at St. Johns College and received his degree in Then he went to Birmingham University and was research assistant to J.T. Randall in the Physics Department. Where they studied the luminescence of solids. In 1940 he obtained a Ph.D. -In 1945 he was a lecturer in physics at St. Andrews University, Scotland, where J.T. Randall was organizing biophysical studies. -In 1946 he went to Kings College where he studied the orientation of purines and pyrimidines.

1938-Physics degree from St. Johns College, Cambridge 1940-Obtained Ph.D, thesis on a study of thermal stability of trapped electrons in phosphors, and on the theory of phosphoresence-Applied this to war based problems like improving cathode ray tube screens for radar 1943-Manhattan Project-American wartime nuclear physics project-Research led to completion of nuclear weapons, dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading Wilkins to become a strong opponent of them 1945-Had spent 7 years in physics, and decided to begin biophysics, a new and appealing concept to Wilkins

1946-Member of new Medical Research Council Biophysics Research Unit at Kings College, London-First studied genetic effects of ultrasonics-then moved on to development of reflecting microscopes for UV micro- spectrophotometry of nucleic acids in cells-To name a few others-UV dichroism of oriented specimens, arrangement of virus particles of TMV, dry mass in cells with interference microscopes, and X-ray diffraction studies of DNA and sperm heads-Led tofiguring out molecular structure of DNA, establishing the correct Watson-Crick DNA structure

1950-Produced first images of DNA 1953-Using a 1952 X-ray diffraction photo from Wilkins and Franklin, Watson and Crick built the correct and precise model of DNA 1962-The Nobel Prize was given to Watson, Wilkins, and Crick, for Physiology and Medicine because of their discoveries 1997-Wrote book titled Crick, Watson, and DNA, which explained the tension in the relationship between he and Franklin-he wasnt sure how to act with a woman in his laboratory- when they first met he assumed she was his assistant-Said lab was very abnormal

The DNA Enabler Scientific Characteristics

Studied Physics at St. Johns College (PhD in 1940; thesis: Thermal Stability of trapped electronsin phosphors, and the theory of phosphorescence) applied knowledge to war time problems (improvement of cathode ray tube screens for radar) Worked on the Manhattan Project (now opposes nuclear weapons)

Changed emphasis to BIOPHYSICS worked at Kings College, London as a member on the staff of the newly formed Medical Research Council Biophysics Research Unit Studied: -X-Ray Crystallography (applied to biology) -Genetic effects of ultrasonics -development of reflecting microscopes for ultraviolet microspectrophotometry (nucleic acids in cells) -DOUBLE HELIX (orientation of purines and pyrimidines in virus)