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Great Discoveries in Science: The Double Helix

16 minutes 58 seconds

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A woman leaning down to brush her lips on the head of a sleeping baby held in her arms. Caption: were passed on from generation to generation,

James Watson and Francis Crick collected and interpreted key evidence to determine that DNA molecules take the shape of a twisted ladder—a double helix. The film presents the challenges, false starts, and eventual success of their bold chase. Watson relates what those early days in the Cavendish Laboratory were like, including his friendship with Crick and their shared ambition and passion. Rarely seen archival footage is combined with interviews with some of today’s leading scientists to bring this landmark discovery and all of its implications to life.

Media Details

Runtime: 16 minutes 58 seconds

Lab equipment in background with illustration of DNA strand, question marks, and an arrow pointing to the horn on a unicorn. Caption: We'd want to know what parts of the genome make the horn.
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