1952
1952
ALFRED HERSHEY & MARTHA CHASE
In 1951 and 1952 , Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted a series of experiments that verified that genes were made of DNA . With their famous ‘ Hershey-Chase Experiment ’ or ' blender experiment ', they labeled the DNA and protein of a virus ( phage ) and saw that DNA , not protein , was transmitted from the virus into the bacteria during infection . This proved Avery ' s assumption that DNA , not protein , was the source of the genetic instructions .
ROSALIND FRANKLIN & MAURICE WILKINS
With a doctorate in physical chemistry , Rosalind Franklin ' s role was to set up and improve the X-ray crystallography unit at King ' s College . Working with physicist , and former Manhattan Project scientist , Maurice Wilkins , Franklin was able to produce two sets of high-resolution photographs of DNA fibres . Using the photographs , Franklin and Wilkins calculated the dimensions of the strands and also deduced that the phosphate groups were on the outside of what was a helical structure .