Final answer:
Watson and Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, a crucial milestone in biology that contributed to multiple fields. Their discovery was based on X-ray diffraction evidence from Rosalind Franklin, and it enhanced our understanding of genetics, leading to advances in medicine and biotechnology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Watson and Crick's elucidation of the double helix structure of DNA is arguably one of the greatest milestones in biology. In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick, with contributions from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, proposed the double-helix model for the structure of DNA.
This discovery was pivotal to our understanding of genetic inheritance and has had profound implications across various fields, including medicine, forensics, and biotechnology.
Their work was based on the X-ray diffraction images produced by Franklin, which indicated a helical structure. In their famous paper in the scientific journal Nature, Watson and Crick described the DNA molecule as two chains of nucleotides coiled around each other, explaining how genetic information is stored and replicated.
This breakthrough not only enhanced our understanding of genetic material but also paved the way for numerous advancements in biology and medicine, such as the development of genetic engineering techniques and DNA sequencing.