A estrutura do DNA: algumas histórias contadas em livros didáticos.

Abstract

This present paper aims to analyze the episode of the purpose of model for the structure of the DNA-molecule from Watson and Crick, presented in textbooks on natural science for primary and elementary schools and in textbooks on biology for high school. Also considering present historiographic perspectives in history of science, a research was carried out from documents, papers, images and letters written by scientist involved in this episode, especially the original paper once published in the Nature journal in April, 1953. Researches on the episode of the elaboration of the purpose for the structure of the DNA-molecule published by Watson and Crick have shown that this process happened due to the contributions of other scientist that were, also, mentioned in the famous article, published in the Nature journal. In the textbooks where this episode is proposed, Watson and Crick are generally presented as the discoverers of the structure of the DNA-molecule, without even recognizing the various and important contributions from other scientists, giving it the collective character in the elaboration of the proposed model that this episode shows considerably, mainly regarding the work of Pauling, Chargaff, Donohue and Franklin. Thus, it’s possible to point the necessary review of the textbooks of natural science and biology regarding the historiographical approaches in history of science, aiming to appreciate the potencial, especially for the development of a critical look from students that this field of knowledge presents for scientific education. This paper was produced in the scope of Centre for Education Program, researches in the interface between history of science and teaching developed in this program