The scientists who first modeled DNA were James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. They were the first to correctly propose the double helix structure of DNA, based on X-ray diffraction images taken by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins.

While Watson and Crick received the Nobel Prize for their discovery, it's important to acknowledge the crucial contributions of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, whose research was instrumental in helping Watson and Crick arrive at their groundbreaking model.