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The Double Helix

Topic

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • DNA & RNA
  • Scientific Skills & Literacy
  • Visual & Physical Models

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Short Films

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:16:53
Saved By
55 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This film tells the story of the scientists and the evidence involved in one of the most important scientific quests of the 20th century: the discovery of the structure of DNA.

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 chase, culminating in the classic 1953 publication in Nature on the structure of DNA. 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.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Key Terms

deoxyribose, nitrogenous base, nucleotide, scientific model, structural biology, X-ray crystallography

Primary Literature

Franklin, Rosalind E., and R. G. Gosling. “Molecular configuration in sodium thymonucleate.” Nature 171 (1953): 740-741. 

Watson, J. D., and F. H. C. Crick. “A structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid.” Nature 171 (1953): 737-738.

Wilkins, M. H. F., A. R. Stokes, and H. R. Wilson. “Molecular structure of deoxypentose nucleic acids.” Nature 171 (1953): 738-740.
 

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria. Video files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 11.12.13
Date Updated 05.14.20

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A, HS-LS3.A, HS-LS3.B, HS-PS2.B, HS-PS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

IST-1, SYI-1

IB Biology (2016)

2.6, 2.7, 3.4, 7.1, 7.2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2

Materials

HD (M4V) 650 MB
HD (WMV) 524 MB
SD (M4V) 209 MB
SD (WMV) 134 MB
Transcript (PDF) 327 KB
Spanish Dub (Español) (MP4) 296 MB
Transcript - Español (PDF) 242 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 162 KB

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for The Double Helix
Activity Resource
Pulse Chase Primer: The Meselson-Stahl Experiment
Interactive Media Resource
Interactive Video Builder

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
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1-Minute Tips

Double Helix and Pulse-Chase Experiment

Educator Cheryl Coronado discusses how she uses the short film "The Double Helix" to introduce her students to how DNA's structure was uncovered. She then follows with the accompanying pulse-chase student activity that describes the experiment that proved DNA replication is semi-conservative.
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