History of DNA Have you ever wondered "why are my eyes this color?" Have you wondered why you look like this? All your physical characteristics come from our genetics. That genetics are family traits that are passed down through our individual bloodline. All these individualities come from what are considered the fundamental building blocks of life, DNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid is the scientific name for DNA (SITE). A Swiss medical student named Johann Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA in 1868 (SITE). Miescher was examining the white blood cells of pus from a surgical wound. It was there, in these white blood cells, that he found the “hot manual” that defines our appearance. It is important to note that DNA is present in every living creature. The discovery of DNA is nothing new to science, but what do you really know about it? Even though Miescher discovered DNA in 1868, it would take another 80 years before DNA could be considered actual genetic material. The medical and scientific communities of Miescher's time believed that DNA was too simple to be considered genetic material. It was not until the 20th century, when James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helix through X-rays, that DNA was recognized. Watson and Crick looked further into the configuration of DNA and learned that the structure of DNA is actually a coiled double helix. helix with 34 degrees inclination (Hallick, 1995). This double helix structure is made up of alternating sugar and phosphate bonds. Holding these sugar and phosphate bonds together is hydrogen. The four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine attach to sugar/phosphate bonds to form a complete nucleotide (Simon & Dickey, 2012). The nucleotoid repeats itself creating a......medium paper......onucleic acid (dna). (2012, June 13). Retrieved from https://www.genome.gov/25520880 Diseases and Conditions copd. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/basics/definition/con-20032017Hallick, R. (1995). Introduction to the structure of DNA. Retrieved from http://www.blc.arizona.edu/molecular_graphics/dna_structure/dna_tutorial.htmlProtein synthesis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/584proteinsyn.htmlMoss, T. (2001). DNA-protein interactions: principles and protocols. Totowa, NJ: Humana PressRole of enzymes in biochemical reactions. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/570enzymes.htmlSimon; Rece; Dickey, E. (2012). Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology [VitalSouce shelf version]. Retrieved from http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/9781256902089/id/ch04bx3