Correct option is B
Correct Answer: (b) James Watson and Francis Crick
Explanation:
The structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, with significant contributions from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. They proposed the double-helix model of DNA, explaining how genetic information is stored and replicated.
Watson and Crick's discovery showed that DNA consists of two strands coiled around each other, with base pairs (adenine-thymine and cytosine-guanine) held together by hydrogen bonds. Their work was pivotal in understanding molecular biology and earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962, shared with Maurice Wilkins.
Knowledge Booster:
● Rosalind Franklin contributed crucial data through X-ray crystallography, which revealed the helical structure of DNA.
● DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the hereditary material in almost all living organisms.
● The structure explains the complementary base pairing that allows DNA replication and transcription.
● The discovery paved the way for advancements in genetics, biotechnology, and medical research.
● DNA is composed of a sugar-phosphate backbone and four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
Additional Information:
● Charles Darwin (Option a): Known for the theory of evolution by natural selection, unrelated to DNA structure.
● Gregor Mendel (Option c): The father of genetics, who discovered the principles of heredity through pea plant experiments, but did not study DNA.
● Rosalind Franklin (Option d): Made critical contributions to the discovery but did not receive the Nobel Prize as it was awarded posthumously to her male colleagues.