DNA's golden jubilee

Abstract

![][1] 50 Years of DNAForeword by PhilCampbell, edited by JulieClayton and CarinaDennisPalgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK144 pages, £20.00ISBN 1 403 91480 X Since the beginning of the year, we have heard many times that in April 1953, Nature published three consecutive papers that signalled a new era in biology: the era of DNA. Nature rightly celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of this event by preparing a special supplement (23 January 2003) containing the original papers, together with interesting historical perspectives and topical overviews of the current state of DNA research in different branches of biology. Those who missed this special issue may be glad to learn that Nature Publishing Group has prepared a greatly expanded version that includes such extras as interviews with James Watson and Maurice Wilkins. Compiled by Julie Clayton and Carina Dennis, 50 Years of DNA is a superbly illustrated, carefully researched and well‐written DNA jubilee book. Julie Clayton has written ten introductory chapters that start with a historical background and end with discussions on the moral implications of human cloning. Carina Dennis has commissioned and edited up‐to‐date reviews on DNA by leading scientists in the field. Of course, it is difficult to avoid mistakes in enterprises like these, and the first one is prominently exposed on the cover of the book: an attractive computer‐generated image of DNA with 20 base pairs per turn. There are other graphic lapses inside the book, like the classical mistake of presenting DNA as a left‐handed helix. We should, however, concentrate on the text. For me, and probably many other readers who are interested in the history of science, this book provides new insights into understanding what really happened in the first few months of 1953, and who we should remember as providing the decisive data required to elucidate the structure of DNA. Clayton's … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif