DNA Papers #4: Fred Griffith

Perspectives on Science

Episode 4 of the DNA Papers features another chapter in the deep history of DNA in which the molecule itself doesn’t come up. As in the previous episode, the paper makes no explicit reference to either the molecule or its function. But the paper occupies an indisputable role in the history of DNA, because the discovery it reports opened the door to discovery of the function of DNA as the carrier of hereditary information. Joining the discussion on “The significance of pneumococcal types” by the British microbiologist and epidemiologist Fred Griffith (The Journal of Hygiene 27 (02): 113–59; 1928) are: Lloyd Ackert, Drexel University Matthew Cobb, University of Manchester (guest moderator) Michel Morange, École Normale Supérieure For additional resources on this topic, see https://www.chstm.org/video/144.