watson-crick model
C2Formal, Scientific, Academic
Definition
Meaning
The double helix structure of DNA, first described by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, which explains how genetic information is stored and replicated.
The fundamental, three-dimensional molecular model of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) consisting of two antiparallel polynucleotide chains wound around a common axis, held together by complementary base pairing (adenine-thymine, guanine-cytosine). It is the cornerstone of modern molecular biology and genetics.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun, often capitalised. Refers specifically to the 1953 model. Can be used metonymically to represent the concept of the DNA double helix itself or the discovery that led to modern genetics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. The term is identically used in scientific contexts globally. Pronunciation may follow national preferences for the names 'Watson' and 'Crick'.
Connotations
Universally carries connotations of scientific breakthrough, foundational biological knowledge, and the collaborative nature of discovery.
Frequency
Exclusively high-frequency in academic biology, biochemistry, and genetics contexts. Extremely low frequency in general discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The Watson-Crick model [VERB: was proposed, describes, shows, illustrates] that...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
The Watson-Crick model provided the first plausible mechanism for DNA replication, revolutionising biology.
Technical
The antiparallel strands of the Watson-Crick model are stabilised by both hydrogen bonding between complementary bases and base-stacking interactions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- Watson-Crick-type base pairing
- the Watson-Crick paper
American English
- Watson-Crick-style helix
- a Watson-Crick discovery
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Watson-Crick model shows DNA shaped like a twisted ladder.
- Scientists built upon the Watson-Crick model to understand how genes are expressed.
- The 1953 publication detailing the Watson-Crick model is arguably the most significant paper in 20th-century biology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a twisted ladder (the double helix) with Watson and Crick as the two builders who first assembled it correctly. The rungs are the base pairs (A-T, C-G) that hold the two sides together.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BLUEPRINT OF LIFE (The model is the architectural plan for biological inheritance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'модель Уотсона-Крика' in overly informal contexts where 'двойная спираль ДНК' is more natural. The hyphen is crucial in English.
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'Watson and Crick model' without the hyphen (the standardised term is hyphenated).
- Confusing it with later models like the triple helix or alternative DNA structures.
- Using it as a general term for any DNA structure rather than the specific 1953 double helix.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary significance of the Watson-Crick model?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was proposed by American biologist James Watson and British physicist Francis Crick in 1953.
It explained how DNA's structure allows it to store genetic information and be replicated accurately through complementary base pairing.
Its core premise of the double helix with specific base pairing remains fundamentally correct, though many finer details of DNA dynamics and topology have since been discovered.
They used crucial X-ray diffraction data from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, along with Chargaff's rules on base ratios and existing chemical knowledge of nucleotides.