“Nucleic acids bulk so large in the composition of cells that it seems certain that these substances are involved in some important biological functions. Nevertheless, with one exception [bacterial transformation], there has been no proof of a specific biological function mediated by one of these palynucleotides; no enzyme, hormone, vitamin, or even vague ‘growth substance’ has been found to be a nucleic acid.”
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Olby, R. DNA before Watson—Crick. Nature 248, 782–785 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/248782a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/248782a0
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