DNA Timeline

DNA, the molecule carrying the genetic instructions of life, was arguably one of the
most important discoveries of the last century. DNA is used in the development of all forms of
known life, is composed of 4 nucleotides, and has the form of a double helix. This is a timeline
of the discovery and development of DNA.
Date
Work with heredity and genes
1866

1869

1911

1928

Gregor Mendel publishes work on hereditary traits in peas. He notes that certain traits are
passed from parent to offspring. Later these factors are called genes.
Acid, not protein, in a cell nuclei
Friedrich Miescher describes an acidic substance in a cell's nuclei. This substance, first
called nuclein, is now identified as DNA.
Linear genes discovered in chromosomes
Thomas Hunt Morgan conducts experiments where he demonstrates that genes are located
linearly along chromosomes.
Genetic factor in bacteria transferred
Frederick Griffith, in an experiment with mice, transfers the fatal component of a bacteria
causing pneumonia to a benign strain of bacteria, which then cause a fatal pneumonia in
the mice. He then determined that there must be a genetic factor that can transform the
bacteria.
Components of DNA discovered

1929 Phoebus Levene discovers deoxyribose sugar in nucleic acids. Later on, demonstrates that
DNA is made up of nucleotides, which are composed of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate
group, and a base.
First pictures of DNA taken
1943
William Astbury takes X-ray diffraction pictures of DNA
More proof for DNA in genes over proteins
1944

1950

Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty demonstrate that it is not protein but
DNA that is the factor that Frederick Griffith identified.
Base pairs discovered
Erwin Chargaff demonstrates that the bases of DNA are equal = there is an A for every T
and a C for every G.

1952 DNA crystals photographed

Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin image DNA crystals via X-ray. These images are
the basis for the conclusions of Watson and Crick.
Watson and Crick describe double-helix DNA
1953

1953

2000

James Watson and Francis Crick publish their description of DNA. They describe it as a
double-helix -two spirals held together by complementary base pairs.
Advances in genetics (1953-1996)
various discoveries of individual genes for cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, etc. Also,
genetically engineered food, and animal cloning.
Human genome project
Announcement of a draft of the human genome by a joint venture of the public and a
private company called Celera.
Human genome complete

2003
Final completion of the human genome sequence announced.