“THE MOST IMPORTANT BIOLOGICAL DISCOVERY OF THE 20TH CENTURY”: THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THE DNA MOLECULE RESEARCH IN NATURE

WATSON, James and CRICK, Francis. "A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid."; WILKINS, M.H.F. Wilkins, STOKES, A.R., and WILSON, H.R. "Molecular Structure of Deoxypentose Nucleic Acids."; FRANKLIN, Rosalind E. and GOSLING, R.G. "Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate."; and WATSON, James and CRICK, Francis. "Genetic Implications of Deoxyribonucleic Acid." IN: Nature: A Weekly Journal of Science, Volume 171, January 3, 1953 to June 27, 1953, Nos. 4356 and 4361, pp. 737-741 and 964-967. London: Macmillan and Co., 1953. Two volumes. Octavo, original self wrappers, staple bound. $13,500.

First edition of two issues of Volume 171 of the journal Nature, with the first appearances of the articles announcing the most important biological discovery of the 20th century, including the first illustration of the double-helix structure of DNA.

Here, between an article describing a method of measuring wind currents at sea and "Letters to the Editor," the most important biological discovery of the 20th century is calmly announced and concisely elucidated in a paper little more than a page long: the key to the deciphering of the genetic code. "It has not escaped our notice," write Watson and Crick near the end of the first paper, "that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material." Neither did it escape the notice of the Nobel Prize committee. In 1962 Crick, Watson and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nuclear acids and its significance for information transfer in living material" (Garrison & Morton 256.3; 256.4). An offprint of the first three articles about DNA was released at the same time. Several other key papers pertaining to genetics that are included in this volume serve to further confirm Watson and Crick's findings. These papers document the birth of a new science, Molecular Biology, whose benefits for humanity we are only now beginning to realize. Dibner 200. Grolier Club, One Hundred Books Famous in Medicine, 99. Garrison & Morton 256.3, 256.4, 256.8. Ink stamps on title pages.

Minor toning along spines. Excellent condition.