Question

In the third paragraph from the end, Watson and Crick state, "It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material." This may be the biggest understatement in the history of biology. What is the historical significance of this statement?

A) It marked the discovery of DNA structure
B) It was a failed hypothesis
C) It discussed genetic mutations
D) It referred to RNA structure

Answer 1

The statement marked the discovery of the structure of DNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The historical significance of Watson and Crick's statement, "It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material," is that it marked the discovery of the structure of DNA. This statement acknowledged the implication of their proposed base pairing and its potential role in DNA replication. The double-helix model they presented provided a framework for understanding how DNA divides and makes copies of itself.