= Paul M. Doty
{c}
{wiki}
= Paul Doty
{c}
{synonym}
= P. Doty
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{synonym}
\b[Paul Doty] was a <biochemist> and <biophysicist> who studied the physical properties of <proteins> and <nucleic acids>. Harvard's memorial identifies <DNA melting> and reassociation of separated strands among his scientific contributions. His research helped make DNA structure accessible through measurable physical transitions rather than chemical composition alone.<Paul Doty memorial at Harvard>[Departmental memorial, scientific contributions]{ref}
With <J. Marmur>, Doty studied how DNA thermal-denaturation temperature relates to <GC content>. Their1962 paper followed260nm <absorbance> through the <hyperchromic effect> accompanying the transition and compared melting measurements with independently known base compositions.<Determination of the base composition of deoxyribonucleic acid from its thermal denaturation temperature by J. Marmur and P. Doty>[Abstract and section2, thermal-transition measurement]{ref}
An original calculation using the paper's empirical relation illustrates its quantitative purpose. Under the stated solvent condition of about0.2molar sodium ions, the reported fit is
$$
T_m=69.3+0.41g,
$$
with $T_m$ expressed numerically in degrees Celsius and $g$ the percentage <GC content>. A measured midpoint of89.8degrees Celsius corresponds to
$$
g=\frac{89.8-69.3}{0.41}=50.
$$
This inference depends on the solution conditions and the empirical fit; it is not a universal temperature-to-composition conversion for every DNA sample.<Determination of the base composition of deoxyribonucleic acid from its thermal denaturation temperature by J. Marmur and P. Doty>[Abstract; Results, dependence on ionic strength and base composition]{ref}
\Image[https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/paul-doty-with-founders-photo-20051.jpg]
{title=Paul Doty at the Belfer Center in2005}
{id=image-paul-doty-harvard-gazette}
{description=The Harvard Gazette identifies Doty standing beside his founder's photograph. Courtesy of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.}
{width=300}
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