1.1.1 Genes are made of dna 1903. WS Sutton had realized that the inheritance patterns of genes paralleled the behavior of chromosomes during cell division Protein vs dna The most conclusive way to identify the chemical composition of genes would be to purify some and subject them to chemical analysis. But nothing like this had ever been attempted and it was not clear how it could be done. Ironically, the experiment was performed almost unwittingly by a group of scientists who did not look upon themselves as molecular biologists and who were not motivated by a curiosity to know what genes are made of1.1.1. Genes are made of DNA • 1903, WS Sutton had realized that the inheritance patterns of genes paralleled the behavior of chromosomes during cell division. • Protein vs DNA • The most conclusive way to identify the chemical composition of genes would be to purify some and subject them to chemical analysis. But nothing like this had ever been attempted and it was not clear how it could be done. Ironically, the experiment was performed almost unwittingly by a group of scientists who did not look upon themselves as molecular biologists and who were not motivated by a curiosity to know what genes are made of