DNA
A Serendipity Story
Serendipity Stories bring the practice of serendipity to life in real-world examples.
When James Watson and Francis Crick, two scientists at Cambridge University’s Cavendish Laboratory, set to work to decode what they called “the secret of life,” they had only an inkling that what they would find, and the series of random discoveries that led to it, would change everything we know about genetics, biology, and medicine. The first spark of discovery occurred one evening, during a casual conversation following an astronomy lecture, when they met with physicist John Griffith. As they discussed gene replication over drinks, Griffith proposed an intriguing idea: certain chemical bases might naturally pair together in specific ways.
Next came one of the most crucial pieces of evidence: the famous “Photo 51” taken by Rosalind Franklin and her research student, Raymond Gosling. Franklin was a researcher at King’s College London and had produced remarkably clear X-ray diffraction images of DNA, which showed an unmistakable helical pattern. Without Franklin’s knowledge, her colleague Maurice Wilkins showed Photo 51 to Watson in January 1953.
This image, along with Franklin’s meticulous data on DNA’s dimensions and the positioning of its sugar-phosphate backbone, also provided to Watson, confirmed the helical structure and provided precise measurements that made accurate model-building possible. It was the concrete experimental evidence Watson and Crick needed to lay the foundation for their next steps.1
The pivotal moment arose from sharing an office with crystallographer Jerry Donohue. One day, while glancing at their developing model, Donohue made a casual observation: the textbook representations of certain chemical bases they were using were likely incorrect. He specifically pointed out that the drawings showing the bases in their “enol” form were wrong, and they should be in their “keto” form instead.
Upon hearing this, Watson was devastated. He later wrote that he believed this might be the “death blow” to their work. But instead, adversity led to inspiration. The very next morning, while clearing his desk, Watson suddenly had an idea for how the DNA bases might pair together: adenine with thymine, guanine with cytosine. This pairing mechanism would explain not only DNA’s helical structure, but it also hinted at how genetic information could be stored and replicated.
Watson and Crick pursued it, eventually publishing their discovery in the journal Nature on April 25, 1953, in a one-page paper titled “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.” This remarkably brief paper (about 900 words) is one of the most significant scientific publications of the 20th century.
Crick later reflected on these key moments of discovery, noting that while they seemed like mere luck, they were more likely due to their active search, their prior knowledge, and the conversations of their network. He and Watson had immersed themselves so deeply in the problem that they could recognize significant patterns and connections when they appeared.
A 1962 Nobel Prize validated their discovery.*2 Watson and Crick transformed our understanding of heredity and life itself, all because two scientists remained open to serendipitous connections while pursuing their bold conviction that nature’s most profound secret could be understood.
The story of DNA demonstrates that scientific breakthroughs often emerge not from following a predetermined path, but from the ability to recognize and act upon fortunate occurrences. It wasn’t just about being in the right place at the right time; it was about having a mind willing and ready to seize upon chance observations, make new connections, and transform them into revolutionary outcomes.
* Rosalind Franklin had died of ovarian cancer in 1958 at age 37 and was ineligible for the prize, which is not awarded posthumously. Her essential experimental contributions went largely unrecognized during her lifetime. Maurice Wilkins was also awarded the Nobel prize for “discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material” for his role in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Make it Your Own
Watson & Crick’s discovery of DNA offers a masterclass in how breakthrough moments actually happen- not through rigid planning, but through prepared minds meeting opportunity and then taking action. Here are some key principles you can apply:
Get into the weeds - Immerse yourself deeply in what matters to you. When your mind is saturated with a problem, you'll start noticing relevant connections everywhere.
Embrace collaborative friction - Seek out people who challenge your assumptions. Watson and Crick's most significant insights stemmed from corrections and casual suggestions from others.
Pay attention during downtime - Watson's breakthrough came while clearing his desk. Build in time where your mind can wander and make unexpected connections.
Reframe setbacks as redirections - When their model seemed ruined, it led directly to their breakthrough. Ask "How might this obstacle be pointing me toward a better solution?"
Start before you're ready - They began building models without having all the answers. Take action on important goals even without a complete plan- doing often reveals what thinking alone cannot.
Trust your pattern recognition - Develop confidence in spotting meaningful connections, even when they seem like stretches to others. Your prepared mind can recognize significance that others miss.
References:
1 King’s College London. (n.d.). Rosalind Franklin. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/rosalind-franklin
2 The Nobel Prize. (n.d.). The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1962/summary/
de Rond, M. (2014). The Structure of Serendipity. Culture and Organization.
Copeland, S. (2024, September). On serendipity in science: Discovery at the intersection of chance and wisdom.
Serendipity Stories bring the practice of serendipity to life in real-world examples. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can bring the practice of serendipity into your life, learn more at practicingserendipitist.com