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The Path to the Double Helix: The Discovery of DNA
The 1953 discovery by James Watson and Francis Crick of the molecular structure of DNA ranks among the most dramatic events in the history of science. In this lively, perceptive, and scholarly study, a noted historian of science provides the first in-depth account of this milestone's achievement.
Combining scientific and historical approaches, the narrative vividly recaptures the excitement of the conceptualization and evolution of ideas that led to the discovery of the genetic "secret of life." The story unfolds along several major long-chain macromolecules; nucleic acids; bacterial transformations; the intellectual evolutions of physicists, chemists, and biologists; and the cross-pollination of scientific disciplines that unlocked the structural secrets of DNA. Francis Crick provides an illuminating Foreword for this abundantly illustrated and thought-provoking retelling of a great scientific detective story.
Combining scientific and historical approaches, the narrative vividly recaptures the excitement of the conceptualization and evolution of ideas that led to the discovery of the genetic "secret of life." The story unfolds along several major long-chain macromolecules; nucleic acids; bacterial transformations; the intellectual evolutions of physicists, chemists, and biologists; and the cross-pollination of scientific disciplines that unlocked the structural secrets of DNA. Francis Crick provides an illuminating Foreword for this abundantly illustrated and thought-provoking retelling of a great scientific detective story.
560 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 29, 2007
I read a hard-bound copy borrowed from the library many years ago, so my memory of this book is dim. What I remember is that the author had done a thorough and meticulous job of chronicling the history of the intellectual path to the discovery of the double helix. Particularly important is the space that the author gives to the role of Bragg, Schroedinger, Bohr, Pauling, and JD Bernal played in building the intellectual edifice on which Crick, Watson, Wilkins and Franklin based their work.
It is often heard these days that Schroedinger's contribution was minimal, through his little book "What is life" because his proposal that the genetic material was a low-entropy thermodynamic engine was fundamentally incorrect. Bohr and Delbruk had thought, like Schroedinger, that elucidation of the nature of the gene would reveal a hitherto unforeseen principle of physics. That too was fundamentally incorrect, and it is often heard these days that these expectations did nothing for progress in understanding the molecular basis of life. What needs to be appreciated, however, is that strong and testable insights even when incorrect play extremely important role in shaping our communal view in science. Without having been influenced by Schroedinger's book it is doubtful whether either Crick or Watson would have come to play such pivotal roles, neither it is apparent whether Delbruck would be interested in biology without the possibility of a new kind of physics that he and his mentor, Bohr, were looking for.
The beginnings of molecular biology is one of the most exciting story of the intellectual history of mankind. Its story is no less riveting than that of any other profoundly important contribution to mankind. The author of this book provides a scholarly account of this history. It is not as entertaining to the uninitiated as is Judson's book, but it complements that book and its value is in its historical accuracy.
It is often heard these days that Schroedinger's contribution was minimal, through his little book "What is life" because his proposal that the genetic material was a low-entropy thermodynamic engine was fundamentally incorrect. Bohr and Delbruk had thought, like Schroedinger, that elucidation of the nature of the gene would reveal a hitherto unforeseen principle of physics. That too was fundamentally incorrect, and it is often heard these days that these expectations did nothing for progress in understanding the molecular basis of life. What needs to be appreciated, however, is that strong and testable insights even when incorrect play extremely important role in shaping our communal view in science. Without having been influenced by Schroedinger's book it is doubtful whether either Crick or Watson would have come to play such pivotal roles, neither it is apparent whether Delbruck would be interested in biology without the possibility of a new kind of physics that he and his mentor, Bohr, were looking for.
The beginnings of molecular biology is one of the most exciting story of the intellectual history of mankind. Its story is no less riveting than that of any other profoundly important contribution to mankind. The author of this book provides a scholarly account of this history. It is not as entertaining to the uninitiated as is Judson's book, but it complements that book and its value is in its historical accuracy.
May 30, 2015
Erudite and thoughtful book. But too scientific for most non-scientific readers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews