Landmark Experiments in Molecular Biology

Landmark Experiments in Molecular Biology critically considers breakthrough experiments that have constituted major turning points in the birth and evolution of molecular biology. These experiments laid the foundations to molecular biology by uncovering the major players in the machinery of inheritance and biological information handling such as DNA, RNA, ribosomes, and proteins. Landmark Experiments in Molecular Biology combines an historical survey of the development of ideas, theories, and profiles of leading scientists with detailed scientific and technical analysis.

Includes detailed analysis of classically designed and executed experimentsIncorporates technical and scientific analysis along with historical background for a robust understanding of molecular biology discoveriesProvides critical analysis of the history of molecular biology to inform the future of scientific discoveryExamines the machinery of inheritance and biological information handling

CHAPTER 1: Introduction
CHAPTER 2: Prehistory of Molecular Biology: 1847-1944
CHAPTER 3: Avery Identifies DNA as the Genetic Material
CHAPTER 4: Hershey and Chase Clinch the Role of DNA as the Genetic Material
CHAPTER 5: Watson and Crick Solve the Structure of DNA
CHAPTER 6: Meselson and Stahl Demonstrate that DNA is Replicated Semiconservatively
CHAPTER 7: Defining the Genetic Code
CHAPTER 8: The Adaptor Hypothesis and the Isolation of transfer RNA
CHAPTER 9: The Discovery and Rediscovery of messenger RNA
CHAPTER 10: Deciphering the Genetic Code
CHAPTER 11: The Surprising Discovery of Split Genes and RNA Splicing
Chapter 12: Epilogue, Theory-driven versus experiment-directed discoveries in molecular biology