Roger Kornberg’s success began years before his discoveries concerning RNA transcription.  In addition, he has been recognized for his studies regarding chromatin, which is fundamental in understanding genetics.  While he was a Junior Fellow at Harvard University, he published a seminar paper in which a model for the structure of chromatin was proposed.  The model of chromatin had repeating units of 200 nucleotide pairs of DNA and eight histone molecules.  This model has since become known as “beads on a string” (10) 

   In his original publication in 1977, Kornberg discussed the existence, the composition, and the structure of nucleosomes.  He says “Despite the great variety and complexity of eukaryotic chromosomes, they are at one level remarkably uniform and simple” (11).   He reveals the composition of nucleosomes, each containing eight histones.  The eight histones include H2A, H2B, H3, and H4, in equimolar, and without them a nucleosome would not form. From this data, Kornberg came to the conclusion that “chromatin is based on a repeat unit, termed the nucleosome, made up of a set of eight histone molecules complexed with about 200 base pairs of DNA” (11).  His research went on to reveal that the DNA is wrapped around these eight histones, forming a spherical particle (11).

   His research on the structure of chromatin and histones is relevant today and has provided other researchers insight into human genetics.  His proposed structure is a fundamental structure pertaining to genetics and is taught in basic biology classes around the world.  It has provided the basic information to expand research into human genetics.