Would the discovery of the DNA double helix by Watson and Crick be of much value if the DNA molecule?

Question

Could not replicate itself? Why?

Answer 1

Any knowledge has value in science. They are the first ones to describe the structure of DNA.

Answer 2

well if dna could not replicate, then there would be no watson, and there wouldn't be any crick.  or any type of life at all beyond (possibly, the single stranded genome of bacteria)

Answer 3

That discovery helped us understand the attributes of DNA, including its replication.

Answer 4

Scientists knew that in order for any molecule to be genetic material, it would have to be able to replicate quickly, easily, somehow, some way.  The helix model fit that theory.  It could split in half and from those halves, 2 complete new copies could be made.

Answer 5

Well first off, I feel that Watson and Crick would have never had the evidence to piece together and prove its existence without the molecular insight and images they basically stole from Rosalyn Franklin. However, its discovery was majorly important because of its predictability of shape based on models by the two scientists and the manner in which they predicted the chemical compounds. Oddly, if DNA was not found to be the holy grail of replicating genetic material it would fade like most discovered structures in most common people's minds like any other enzyme or protein, etc. It's hard to say, there were even more interesting arguments concerning whether the proteins that the DNA molecule is wrapped around transfer the genetic material as opposed to the helix. You should read about it more!!