title: Who discovered messenger RNA?
abstract: The announcement of the discovery of messenger RNA (mRNA) and the cracking of the genetic code took place within weeks of each other in a climax of scientific excitement during the summer of 1961. Although mRNA is of decisive importance to our understanding of gene function, no Nobel Prize was awarded for its discovery. The large number of people involved, the complex nature of the results, and the tortuous path that was taken over half a century ago, all show that simple claims of priority may not reflect how science works.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, M13 9PT, UK. Electronic address: cobb@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cobb
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005823:Genetics / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger