“If either of us suggested”: Crick 1988, p. 70.

“was determined to discover”: Crick 1988, p. 64.

“it would not be fair to them”: John Randall wrote to Pauling on August 28, 1951. He started by explaining that contrary to Gerald Oster’s interpretation, Wilkins was very interested in the DNA work: “I am sorry that Oster is rather misinformed about our intentions with regard to nucleic acid. Wilkins and others are busily engaged in working out the interpretation of the desoxyribosenucleic acid x-ray photographs.” Pauling responded politely on September 25, 1951, saying that he was sorry for having troubled Randall. All the relevant documents are on the Oregon State University website.

“One, thirty-five years old”: Chargaff 1978, p. 101.

“So far as I could make out”: Chargaff 1978, p. 101. Chargaff added (p. 102): “I told them all I knew. If they had heard before about pairing rules, they concealed it.”