In 1927 Russian biologist Nikolai Koltsov (1872–1940) described what he called a “giant hereditary molecule,” which he said was composed of “two mirror strands that would replicate in a semi-conservative fashion using each strand as a template.” His finding was also condemned by many. The communists considered it to be fascist propaganda, and his sudden, unexpected death has been attributed to the secret police of the Soviet Union.
