The Discovery that Began a ‘Scientific Revolution’ | BBC Earth Science

In the 1860s, young chemist Friedrich Miescher worked by candlelight with discarded surgical bandages while studying a substance that science did not yet understand. His work identified what would later be recognised as the master blueprint of human life, yet the wider scientific community ignored the discovery for nearly a century. The video from BBC Earth Science retells this early step in the history of genetics.

• Friedrich Miescher, a young chemist working with discarded surgical bandages
• A discovery later recognised as the basis of human genetic material
• The scientific community ignored the finding for nearly a century
• Part of BBC Earth Science's Earth Lab content

Long before Watson and Crick, a young chemist was working by candlelight with discarded surgical bandages, staring at something science wasn't ready to understand. Friedrich Miescher had just stumbled upon the master blueprint of human life…but the world would ignore his discovery for nearly a century. Best of Earth Science: http://bit.ly/EarthLabOriginals Best of BBC Earth: http://bit.ly/TheBestOfBBCEarthVideos (ARCHIVE TITLE & SYNOPSIS) This is a channel from BBC Studios who help fund new BBC programmes. Service information and feedback: http://bbcworldwide.com/vod-feedback--contact-details.aspx