Chapter 12 Summary

Watson was enthusiastic about beginning to work with the different possible molecular models of DNA. He and Francis knew that the models of the components that were at the lab weren't exactly what they needed. Instead of waiting for new models, they added copper wire to existing models to make the larger-sized phosphorus atoms necessary for DNA. They also needed to represent inorganic ions, but they wouldn't know the correct configuration before understanding the final structural model. Still, they dived in. While Francis reviewed the X-ray images, Watson began assembling pieces of a model. Over lunch, when Francis was usually gregarious and interested in other scientists' problems, he and Watson discussed ideas about the DNA structure. Once they started building, they had problems. The atom models kept falling down, and they saw some problems. The bonds that held together DNA, they found, might...