Letter from James D. Watson to Francis Crick

Letter from James D. Watson to Francis Crick

Contributor(s):
The Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine. Francis Harry Compton Crick Papers
Crick, Francis, 1916-2004
Watson, James D., 1928-
Publication:
Produced: 22 November 1954
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
RNA
DNA
Genre(s):
Archival Materials
Letters (correspondence)
Abstract:
Upon his return to the United States in the summer of 1953 Watson took up the study of RNA (ribonucleic acid), which as the single-stranded companion molecule to DNA and the intermediary in protein synthesis held obvious interest for him and Crick. Watson's studies resulted in the hypothesis that DNA made RNA, and that RNA made proteins.. Watson mentioned the difficulties he was facing in his "current attempt to make protein on N.A. [nucleic acid] surfaces" (p.2), an attempt made in response to George Gamow's idea, later proved incorrect, that DNA could provide a direct, physical template for the twenty amino acids that form the polypeptide chains of which proteins are made up. Despite these difficulties, Watson stated that "[n]evertheless we persist and think we shall find a code" (p.2) for protein synthesis.
Copyright:
This item may be under copyright protection; contact the copyright owner for permission before re-use.
Extent:
4 pages
NLM Unique ID:
101584582X120 (See in Profiles in Science)
Profiles in Science ID:
SCBBJP
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584582X120
Archival Collection:
The Francis Crick Papers (Profiles in Science)