Molecular Biology – Historical Perspective
Molecular Biology – Historical Perspective Introduction Molecular biology is the study of biological processes at the molecular level, focusing on the interactions between DNA, RNA, proteins, and other biomolecules. The field emerged from the convergence of genetics, biochemistry, and biophysics in the mid-20th century. Key Milestones in the History of Molecular Biology 1. Discovery of DNA as the Genetic Material · 1869: Friedrich Miescher – Isolated "nuclein" (DNA) from white blood cells. · 1928: Griffith’s Transformation Experiment – Showed that a "transforming principle" could convert harmless bacteria into virulent ones. · 1944: Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty – Proved that DNA (not protein) was the transforming principle. · 1952: Hershey-Chase Experiment ...