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1 Bremner I am Erwin Chargaff, and I discovered the structure of DNA. Yes, I attest that my work indeed revealed the key facts necessary to determine the basic chemical structure of DNA. Haven’t heard of me? That may be because some of my views, of a naturalist philosophy, were unpopular to some people. For instance, I believe that genetic engineering is dangerous, as dangerous as nuclear war! While science is of course important, and shines lights of discovery into the fog our human minds have about, well, everything, I strongly believe we should not engineer with DNA haphazardly in the name of “science”, for the consequences are unforeseeable and may be disagreeable. Look at the uses of atomic science and see what I mean. In 1944, while at Columbia University in New York City, I began my investigations into the composition of DNA. I collaborated with fellow scientists and biochemists there, as I had when a student at Yale University. By 1950 I had experimentally determined certain crucial facts that led directly to the correct elucidation of its molecular structure. I 1 demonstrated three rules, known as Chargaff's Rules, which state that in DNA: 1) The number of adenine (A) residues always equals the number of thymine (T) residues. 2) The number of guanine (G) residues always equals the number of cytosine (C) residues. 3) The number of purines (A + G) always equals the number of pyrimidines (T + C), which is an obvious consequence of the above rules. 2 2 Bremner I did not collaborate with Watson and Crick. However, we did have a historically significant conversation in the year 1952. As I related in my autobiography called Heraclitean Fire: Sketches of a Life Before Nature: I told them all I knew. If they had heard before about the pairing rules, they concealed it. But as they did not seem to know much about anything, I was not unduly surprised. I mentioned our early attempts to explain the complementarity relationships by the the nucleic acid chain, assumption that, in adenylic acid was always next to thymidylic acid and cytidylic next to guanylic acid...I believe that the double-stranded model of DNA came about as a consequence of our conversation. While those gentlemen went on to discover the double- helix format in our genetic makeup, for which they won the Nobel prize and became famous, I went on to do many good things in the field of biochemistry. Honorary degrees, awards and Scientific Academy memberships were my legacy, as was a respected tenure as professor at Columbia University. Things ended on a sour note there, but no matter. Family is more important than prestige-- I am also proud of my long marriage to Vera Broido and my son Thomas Chargaff. A lasting legacy I would like to be remembered for is my moral criticism of biological engineering. not let its new and popular mystique fool you—it is a Do 3 Bremner mistake. Thank you, and keep your sense of wonder while exploring scientific inquiries—it sustained me for 96 years. 1. 2. 3. www.macroevolution.net/erwinchargaff.html#.USJmQeh4Uy4 4 Bremner Sources: www.macroevolution.net/erwinchargaff.html#.USJmQeh4Uy4 www.answers.com/topic/erwin-chargaff www.nndb.com/people/462/000179922/ Images: www.dnalc.org/view/16429-Gallery-19-Erwin-Chargaff1947.html www.macroevolution.net/erwinchargaff.html#.USJmQeh4Uy4 5 Bremner QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. 6 Bremner