Word: nucleic
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Michigan-born Hershey, who began exchanging information with Delbruck and Luria in 1942, found more conclusive evidence for the genetic recombination that Delbrück had discovered. In 1952, Hershey proved that the virus, which consists simply of nucleic acid (DNA) surrounded by a coat of protein, leaves its coat behind as it invades a cell. So it must be the DNA that contains the genetic information...
Dependent Generals. Ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acid are the fundamental chemicals that determine the nature of living things-whether they will grow normally or abnormally, whether they will reproduce their kind or perish. The two nucleic acids are as dependent on their loyal enzymes as a general on his junior officers. The bovine ribonuclease that has been synthesized will have no immediate value as a treatment for any of the ills of animals or man. But its synthesis shows that man is coming closer to his goal of emulating nature at the most basic, biochemical level...
...Hilleman's group reasoned that since it seems to be the nucleic acid in the virus' core that provokes natural interferon output, something like a harmless form of nucleic acid might stimulate the increased production they were seeking. They tested helenine, extracted from a mold related to those that make penicillin and already known to have antiviral properties (though no one then knew why). Extraordinarily complex extraction procedures yielded a pure ribonucleic acid (RNA). But this was no ordinary RNA, such as occurs in the cores of many viruses in molecules of single strands. This proved...
Promising Prospects. The Merck virologists tried other kinds of nucleic acid: single-stranded RNA, doublestranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and substances containing proteins. None worked. Then they took two groups of nucleic acid components. Alone, neither of these had worked, but when they were combined in what turned out to be a multi-stranded RNA, the protective effect for infected mice was about the same as that conferred...
After earning his degree, Asimov did research on the nucleic acids, then was invited to teach biochemistry at Boston University Medical School. "I had never had a course in biochemistry in my life," he recalls, "but I was a pretty good chemist and figured that the bio wouldn't be too difficult to pick up." His immodesty was more than justified. Before long, he had co-authored Biochemistry and Human Metabolism, a book that is still a well-regarded text on the subject...