Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did Watson and Crick's double-helix model help explain genetic inheritance?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Diagram showing how epinephrine binding to a beta-adrenergic receptor on a cell membrane activates a G-protein, which then stimulates adenylyl cyclase to convert ATP into cyclic AMP (cAMP), leading to physiological effects such as increased heart rate, blood vessel dilation, and glycogen breakdown. — Biochemistry In biochemistry, researchers study the chemical substances and processes that occur in living organisms and cells. In particular, various processes by which cells gain energy, such as epinephrine-stimulated cAMP synthesis, have been deduced through the study of biochemistry.

The double-helix model proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 provided a chemical foundation for understanding how genetic information is stored and passed to subsequent generations. Their model explained inheritance through two primary mechanisms:1

Replication: Watson and Crick hypothesized that because the two strands of the double helix are held together by complementary base pairing—where adenine always pairs with thymine and guanine with cytosine—the strands could separate to act as templates for the synthesis of new, identical DNA molecules. This templating process ensures that genetic information is replicated accurately during cell division.12
Information Coding: The model suggested that the specific sequence of nucleotides along the DNA molecule serves as a code that directs the development and biological functions of an organism.1

By demonstrating that DNA's structure allows for both the faithful copying of genetic instructions and the storage of complex biological information, the model resolved fundamental questions regarding the physical basis of heredity.12