The Mission You just got hired as a scientist in a genetics laboratory. As your first assignment approaches, you want to brush up on your history of DNA. You decide to research the following: The scientists involved in the discovery of DNA. The discoveries and research that led to the realization that DNA was the genetic material. The scientists who were involved in discovering the structure of DNA.

DOSSIER For each scientist/s, find the following information: The date of their discovery/research. Their discovery or contribution to DNA history. How they come to this discovery Example: method, DNA technology, process, or model. Remember, you do not need to visit each website for each scientist. Just find the information you need for each scientist.

Friedrich Miescher Websites DNA Timeline (this may be helpful for all scientists) Points to Remember Where did Miescher acquire the material he studied? What do you think he was actually extracting?

Frederick Griffith Websites: DNA Transformation Slideshow of Griffith's Research (Use Slides 7-12) Animation of Griffith’s experiment Points to Remember: What was the name of Griffith’s discovery? What did his discovery show?

Oswald Avery Websites: Avery and the transforming principle Avery on the Genetics Timeline Points to Remember: What was Avery trying to find out? What did Avery finally realize about transformation?

Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase Websites: Diagram of Hershey-Chase experiment Description of Experiment Interactive Simulation of Experiment Another good diagram with description Points to Remember: What did Hershey and Chase use in their experiment to transfer genetic information? What two parts of the virus were being tested in their experiment? What did Hershey and Chase conclude?

Erwin Chargaff Websites: Chargaff's Rules Description of Chargaff's Rules Points to Remember: What are Chargaff’s rules? What did the similarities in base pairing between different organisms say about DNA?.

Linus Pauling Websites Pauling's Triple Helix Structure Points to Remember Describe the structure of DNA that Pauling proposed. What was wrong with his model?

Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins Websites: Rosalind's Research More Rosalind Information Information on Maurice Wilkins and his work with DNA Points to Remember What technique did Rosalind and Maurice use in their research? What did Rosalind and Maurice’s work help show about DNA?

Francis Crick and James Watson Websites People and Discoveries: Watson and Crick DNA Structure Contributors A look back at DNA 50 years later Points to Remember: What was the name given to Watson & Crick’s structure of DNA? What did their model of DNA help explain about DNA?

Matthew Meselson and Franklin Stahl Websites Meselson and Stahl Experiment Animation Overview Points to Remember What methods were used in their experiments? What did the results of their experiment prove?

Mission Accomplished! You’re done! Once you have completed your dossiers, turn them in.