Structure of DNA

Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
• The discovery of
the structure of
DNA is one of the
greatest events in
the history of
science.
Structure of DNA
Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
• Erwin Chargaff and
his colleagues
provided a most
important clue to the
structure of DNA.
• The work of Chargaff
led him to following
conclusions, also
called “Chargaff
Rules”:-
Structure of DNA
Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
1. Base composition of
DNA varies from one
species to another.
Structure of DNA
Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
2. The DNA isolated
from different
tissues of the same
species have the
same base
composition.
Structure of DNA
Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
3. The base
composition of DNA
in a given species
does not change
with an organism’s
age, nutritional
state, or changing
environment.
Structure of DNA
Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
4. In DNA, the number of
adenosine residues is
equal to the number
of thymidine (A=T)
and the number of
guanosine residues is
equal to the number
of cytidine (G=C).
Structure of DNA
Work of Chargaff
(Late 1940s)
It means that the sum
of the purine residues
equals the sum of the
pyrimidine residues
(AG=TC).