IN 4 FULL VOLUMES, ALL 6 MILESTONE PAPERS ANNOUNCING THE DISCOVERY OF THE STRUCTURE OF DNA: Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid, in Nature Vol.171, No. 4356, pp.737-738, 25th April, 1953 [WITH] Wilkins, Maurice H.F., A.R. Stokes and H.R. Wilson. Molecular Structure of Deoxypentose Nucleic Acids, in Nature Vol.171, No. 4356, pp.738-740, 25th April, 1953 [WITH] Franklin (Rosalind E.) and R.G. Gosling. Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate, in Nature Vol.171, No. 4356, pp.740-741, 25th April, 1953 [WITH] Watson (James D.) & Francis Crick. Genetic Implications of the Structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, in Nature Vol.171, No. 4361, pp.964-967, 30th May, 1953 AND Franklin, R. E.; Gosling, R. G. Evidence for 2-Chain Helix in Crystalline Structure of Sodium Deoxyribonucleate (pp. 156-157) WITH Wilkins (M. H. F.), W. E. Seeds, A. R. Stokes and H. R. Wilson. Helical Structure of Crystalline Deoxypentose Nucleic Acid, in Nature (pp.759-762) [FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST by Watson, James Dewey and Crick, Francis - 1953

London: Macmillan, 1953. 1st Edition. FOUR VOLUME 1st EDITIONS OF ALL 4 Volumes of the 1953 Journal NATURE, THESE CONTAINING THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE "SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT WORK IN THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES, THE DISCOVERY OF DNA (Important Scientific Books, Christies, 2008, 378). Volume 171 appears in two volumes, January-March and April-June. Volume 172 is also in two volumes and contains the remainder of the year, July-September and October-December. The lesser known Volume 172 contains two more papers by Wilkins, Stokes, Seeds, Wilson, as well as Franklin & Gosling further confirming the theory with experimental work, and starting to build a connection to protein synthesis which in retrospect was the link which catapulted the discovery of DNA into a useful and actionable research direction.

The discovery of the building blocks of life - the identification of the double helix structure of DNA and the copying mechanism of genetic material by James Watson and Francis Crick - was "arguably the greatest modern discovery in biology and one of the greatest discoveries in the history of science" (Buddenbrooks). Watson, Crick and Wilkins were jointly awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of the nucleic acids" (Nobel Prize Committee).

The Watson and Crick "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids" first describes the double helical structure of DNA. With some understatement they note that the structure "suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material (Nature, 737). In Watson and Cricks's "Genetrical Implications of the Structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid" follow up with largely accurate speculation on how base pairing in the double helix allows replication of DNA" (Nature).

Also in this volume are a number of other related and quite important papers:

In "Molecular Structure of Deoxypentose Nucleic Acids" M. H. F. Wilkins, A. R. Stokes and H. R. Wilson "analyse the X-Ray crystallography evidence, and suggest evidence that the structure exists in biological systems" (Nature, 738)

In "Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate," Wilkins, W. E. Seeds, Stokes, and Wilson present X-ray diffraction evidence for the model proposed by Watson and Crick (Nature, 740).

Also in this volume are a number of other related and quite important papers:

In "Molecular Structure of Deoxypentose Nucleic Acids" M. H. F. Wilkins, A. R. Stokes and H. R. Wilson "analyse the X-Ray crystallography evidence, and suggest evidence that the structure exists in biological systems" (Nature, 738).

In "Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate," Wilkins, W. E. Seeds, Stokes, and Wilson present X-ray diffraction evidence for the model proposed by Watson and Crick (Nature, 740).

Volume 172 contains two more papers by Wilkins, Stokes, Seeds, Wilson, as well as Franklin and Gosling further confirming the theory with experimental work, and starting to build a connection to protein synthesis which in retrospect was the link which catapulted the discovery of DNA into a useful and actionable research direction. CONDITION AND DETAILS: Four full volumes collectively housing all of 1953. London: Macmillan. Large octavo. (10 x 7.5 inches; 250 x 188mm). Vol. 171: 1 ex-libris mark; a very small stamp on the rear of the title page. No other markings inside or out. Volume 172: 1 ex-libris mark; a very small stamp on the rear of the title page. No other markings inside or out. All four volumes are handsomely and very solidly rebound in half leather. 5 raised bands at the spine, gilt-ruled. One red morocco label; one black morocco label; both gilt-lettered. The title pages are slightly soiled, otherwise bright and exceptionally clean through. and very solidly bound. Near fine.