Meselson and Stahl: the art of DNA replication.

摘要: In 2003, the scientific community celebrated 50th anniversary of James Watson and Francis Crick's landmark 1953 paper on structure DNA ( 1). The double helix, whose form has become icon biological research, was not an instant hit however. model did gain wide acceptance until publication another 5 years later. Matthew Meselson Franklin Stahl's experiments replication DNA, published in PNAS 1958 2), helped cement concept helix. Meselson, a graduate student, Stahl, postdoctoral researcher, both at California Institute Technology (Pasadena), gave validity to that many scientists saw as speculation: how two intertwined tangled strands helix could physically code for material inheritance. Perspective by Philip Hanawalt Stanford University (Stanford, CA), this issue 3), reviews Revolution crowning achievement outlines its subsequent impact four decades replication, recombination, repair research. men behind laborious steps discovering semiconservative credit much their success timing, hard work, serendipity. During his third year school Rochester (Rochester, NY), one advisors suggested he take physiology course sent him Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole, MA. “I partied my way through course,” Stahl confesses. “During partying, I met Meselson,” who also temporarily working …