学科交叉与分子生物学的革命和发展 --纪念DNA双螺旋模型建立50周年

20世纪生物学最激动人心的大事就是50年前DNA双螺旋结构的发现。作为纪念，本文从历史的角度阐明这场分子生物学革命的方法论动因：物理化学技术在分子生物学中的运用。化学在生物学中的运用随着有机化学的发展自然而然地进行，然而，物理学方法在生物学中的运用却需要理论的勇气和胆量。玻尔、薛定谔等对物理化学方法的倡导，洛克菲勒基金会对应用物理学方法研究分子生物学问题的资助等促使大批物理学家向生物学转移。同位素示踪方法、X射线衍射分析、超速离心技术等的应用推动着分子生物学的革命性发展。20世纪末和新的世纪，计算技术、应用数学和信息科学方法代替物理学方法成为推动分子生物学发展的新方法。

Cross - Discipline and the Revolution and Development of Molecular Biology --Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Discovery of DNA Double Helix

The most stirring biological event in twentieth century was the discovery of DNA double helix 50 years ago. As a memory, this paper explores the methodological driving force of this biological revolution, especially the use of physical and chemical techniques in biology. The use of chemical technique in biology is natural for the sake of the development of organic chemistry. The use of physical technique in biology, however, needs theoretical bravery and courage. The sparkplug of the use of physical and chemical technique in biology by N. Bohr,E. Schodinger and the aid from Rockefeller Foundation for using physical and chemical technique to explore molecular biological problems spurred many physicists stepping into biology. The use of isotpe labeling method, X-ray diffraction and ultracentrifuge technique promoted the revolutionary development of molecular biology. At the end of twentieth century,computational technique and applying mathematics replaced physics as the new methods for driving the advancement of molecular biology.