Dna, The Double-Helix, Genes & Genetics

Barbara McClintock (1902 – 1992), an American cytogeneticist. McClintock discovered in maize plants the genetic transposition and the transposable elements ("jumping genes"), DNA sequences that can change their positions within the genome, sometimes creating or reversing mutations and altering the cell's genome size. Her discovery earned her a Noble Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1983, about 40 years!!! after her discovery.

Barbara McClintock, issued by the USA on May 4, 2005:

Back of the stamp:

Two postmarks show DNA:

Science and Technology, issued by Macau on October 9, 2001. I have it on FDC:


Postmark publicizing art exhibition shows DNA, Germany 1999:

DNA double helix on the lower left stamp in SS celebrating science, issued by Finland on May 30, 2000:

"The secret of life - DNA and the genome", a set of stamps issued by GB on February 25, 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary discovery of the DNA double helix.

Cracking the Code
Comparative Genetics
Completing the Genome Jigsaw
Genetic Engineering
Medical Future

On May 10, 2000, Palau issued a set of 20 stamps in four different sheets and two SS's about the advances in science and medicine in the 20th century. The stamps show scientists and techniques in the field of molecular biology of the cell mainly the field of the genetic material research and the human genome project. Although they show major scientists and events in the filed of Molecular Biology research, I don't like the stamps since they are very dark and the designs of several of the stamps is odd and unclear. I will post each sheet separately (I have only three of them) with high resolution scans of the stamps. Here is the first:

- Francis Crick – Discovery of the double-helix structure of the DNA – Noble Prize 1962.
- Marshall Nirenberg – Elucidation of the genetic code – Noble Prize 1968.
- Daniel Nathans – Discovery of the restriction enzymes, bacterial enzymes catalyze the cleavage of the DNA molecule – Noble Prize 1978.
- Harold Varmus and Michael Bishop – Use of recombinant DNA to identify several of the genes involved in cancer (Oncogenes) – Noble Prize 1989:
- Phillip Sharp – Discovery of the DNA splicing and split genes – Noble Prize 1993.

Second Sheet:

- James Watson – Discovery of the double-helix structure of the DNA – Noble Prize 1962.
- Har Gobind Khorana and Robert Holley - Elucidation of the genetic code - Noble Prize 1968.
- Hamilton Smith and Werner Arber - Discovery of restriction enzymes, bacterial enzymes that cleave DNA - Noble Prize 1978.
- Extraction of DNA from cell using ultracentrifugation.
- Richard Roberts - Discovery of RNA splicing and split genes - Noble Prize 1993.

Third Sheet:

- Maurice Wilkins – Discovery of the double-helix structure of the DNA – Noble Prize 1962.
- DNA double helix and human chromosome stained with fluorescent dyes in preparation for image analysis.
- Frederick Sanger and Walter Gilbert - Development of methods to determine DNA nucleotide sequence - Noble Prize 1980.
- Kary Mullis - Development of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, used to duplicate Nucleic Acids fragments.
- African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and DNA double helixes. Xenopus is an important tool for in vivo studies in molecular, cell, and developmental biology of vertebrate animals.

In addition to the above sheets issued by Palau, two SS's were issued:

The human genome project:

Dolly, the cloned sheep:
Dolly was a female Finnish Dorset sheep and the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell. She was cloned by associates of the Roslin Institute in Scotland, using the process of nuclear transfer from a cell taken from a mammary gland. Her cloning proved that a cloned organism could be produced from a mature cell from a specific body part.

Dolly, the cloned sheep, issued by Liberia on April 16, 2001 as one of a set of twelve stamps (in two sheets) of a set "famous animals of our time":

Johann Gregor Mendel (1822 - 1884) was an Austrian biologist, meteorologist, mathematician, Augustinian friar and abbot of St. Thomas' Abbey in Brünn (Brno), Margraviate of Moravia. Mendel gained posthumous recognition as the founder of the modern science of genetics. Though farmers had known for millennia that crossbreeding of animals and plants could favor certain desirable traits, Mendel's pea plant experiments conducted between 1856 and 1863 established many of the rules of heredity, now referred to as the laws of Mendelian inheritance.

Johann Gregor Mendel, issued for use in Danzig free city on April 29, 1939:

The 100th anniversary of the death of Johann Gregor Mendel, designed by Adalbert Pilch, engraved by Rudolf Toth and issued by Austria on January 5, 1984:

The 100th anniversary of the death of Johann Gregor Mendel, issued by the Vatican on February 28, 1984:

Several stamps show the DNA double helix:

Biotechnology achievements, issued by Israel on January 1, 2000, to celebrate the new Millennium:

Cloning of cDNA into bacterial plasmid DNA, issued by the RO China on April 22, 1988:

The 4th Molecular biology symposium, issued by Tunisia on April 3, 1984:

50th anniversary of Brno university, issued by Czechoslovakia on March 24, 1969:

The 5th international wheat genetics symposium, New Delhi, issued by India on February 23, 1978:

Sickle cell anemia is a human genetic disease caused by mutation in the Globin gene. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin found in red blood cells leads to a rigid, sickle-like shape of red blood cells with difficulties in transferring Oxygen to the body organs.

Linus Pauling (1901-1994) on the background of sickle red blood cells, issued by the USA on March 6, 2008. Read description on the back of the stamp:


African-American mother and child, self-adhesive stamp issued by the USA on September 29, 2004 to promote early testing of Sickle Cell Anemia, a genetic disorder common among African-American people:

Genetics, issued by Russia on November 12, 1998 as one in a set of achievements of the 20th century. Stamp shows family, DNA double helix during replication, chromosome and other elements of the cell:

"Brain" enjoying reading science book about the DNA double helix, issued by Nevis in 2005 in a set commemorates "Arthur", TV series:

I went through my Israel stamp collection and fortunately found another three stamps show the DNA double helix:

Science Oriented Youth, issued on March 5, 2019:

The 70th anniversary of Weizmann Institute of Science, issued on November 26, 2019:

The 50th anniversary of Ben Gurion University, issued on February 4, 2020: