In 1953, scientists identified DNA’s structure as which shape?
Spiral ramp
Alpha spiral
Double helix
Coiled spring
Fact: In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick, building on X-ray diffraction data from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, unveiled the now-famous double helix structure of DNA. This twisted-ladder design, with paired bases forming the “rungs” and sugar-phosphate backbones forming the “rails,” explained how genetic information could be stored and replicated. The discovery revolutionized biology and earned Watson, Crick, and Wilkins the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, while Franklin’s pivotal contributions were recognized more fully only after her death.
Correct Answer: Double helix