DNA - GCSE History Definition
Reviewed by: Zoe Wade
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In GCSE History, DNA is the material in our cells that carries genetic information. It tells our bodies how to grow and function. In 1953, two scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA. This was a huge breakthrough in medical history. It helped scientists understand how diseases are passed down genetically and allowed investigation into genetic testing, new treatments, and even preventing illnesses before they start. Learning about DNA helps GCSE History students see how modern medicine has been shaped by scientific discoveries, and how understanding the human body has improved massively in the 20th and 21st centuries.
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