Rosalind Franklin's Work Led to the Discovery of DNA Structure
by Owen Borville
June 18, 2024
Biosciences
Rosalind Elsie Franklin (1920 –1958) was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer. Her work most famously led to the understanding of DNA and RNA structure.
Franklin graduated in 1941 with a degree in natural sciences from Newnham College, Cambridge. She completed a Ph.D at the University of Cambridge in 1945 on the topic of the physical chemistry of solid organic colloids, with special reference to the structure of coal and related materials.
She also performed post-doctoral research in 1947 in Paris with Jacques Mering at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l'État, where she became well-know in the field of x-ray crystallography.
Franklin then joined King's College London in 1951 as a research associate, where she completed her work in DNA structure.
Franklin’s most famous contribution was her work on DNA, as she used X-ray diffraction techniques to produce a photo image (Photo 51) that provided crucial insights into the double helix structure of DNA. Her data was very important and led to the discovery by James Watson and Frances Crick.
Franklin discovered the density of DNA, and helped determine the shape and structure of DNA. Crucial to this work was the higher quality x-ray patterns of DNA molecules that Franklin was able to produce. This work helped scientists Watson and Crick identify the double-helix structure of DNA.
Franklin worked in several fields of science, as she researched within biology, chemistry, and physics. Her knowledge of multiple fields of science and her willingness to work in these fields helped her to achieve her success.
Franklin also researched on the structure of coal and carbon materials and her research was used in developing gas masks during World War II, which helped protect military soldiers. Franklin discovered pores in coal at the molecular level, which helped to classify coals and better understand their potential as an energy source.
Franklin also became an expert in studying viruses that cause plant and human diseases, and her work in this area was influential. She first verified and refined Watson's spiral hypothesis for the structure of the virus. She also showed that the viral RNA was a single strand, not a double helix like DNA.
Franklin's work was usually unrecognized during her lifetime, but more recently she has been recognized for her work and her legacy continues to inspire scientists today.
The molecule now known as DNA was first identified in the 1860's by Swiss chemist Johann Friedrich Miescher, as he studied white blood cells.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 was awarded to James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for their discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. However, many believe Franklin's name should have been included in this group, as her work helped confirm the structure of DNA.
Frances Watson later admitted that they could not have made their discovery without her work and her data was used without her consent.
Franklin died suddenly of ovarian cancer at age 37 before the Nobel Prize was awarded on the discovery, and she did not receive credit for her work.
The discovery of DNA structure led to the emergence of the field of molecular biology and new diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, along with analysis of the genetic code.
https://newsroom.lmu.edu/administrative/sexism-in-science-was-rosalind-franklin-robbed-of-a-nobel-prize/#:~:text=Franklin%20was%20unaware%20that%20Wilkins,without%20any%20mention%20of%20Franklin.
https://www.history.com/news/rosalind-franklin-dna-discovery
https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/about/facts-figures/dr-rosalind-franklin/
by Owen Borville
June 18, 2024
Biosciences
Rosalind Elsie Franklin (1920 –1958) was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer. Her work most famously led to the understanding of DNA and RNA structure.
Franklin graduated in 1941 with a degree in natural sciences from Newnham College, Cambridge. She completed a Ph.D at the University of Cambridge in 1945 on the topic of the physical chemistry of solid organic colloids, with special reference to the structure of coal and related materials.
She also performed post-doctoral research in 1947 in Paris with Jacques Mering at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l'État, where she became well-know in the field of x-ray crystallography.
Franklin then joined King's College London in 1951 as a research associate, where she completed her work in DNA structure.
Franklin’s most famous contribution was her work on DNA, as she used X-ray diffraction techniques to produce a photo image (Photo 51) that provided crucial insights into the double helix structure of DNA. Her data was very important and led to the discovery by James Watson and Frances Crick.
Franklin discovered the density of DNA, and helped determine the shape and structure of DNA. Crucial to this work was the higher quality x-ray patterns of DNA molecules that Franklin was able to produce. This work helped scientists Watson and Crick identify the double-helix structure of DNA.
Franklin worked in several fields of science, as she researched within biology, chemistry, and physics. Her knowledge of multiple fields of science and her willingness to work in these fields helped her to achieve her success.
Franklin also researched on the structure of coal and carbon materials and her research was used in developing gas masks during World War II, which helped protect military soldiers. Franklin discovered pores in coal at the molecular level, which helped to classify coals and better understand their potential as an energy source.
Franklin also became an expert in studying viruses that cause plant and human diseases, and her work in this area was influential. She first verified and refined Watson's spiral hypothesis for the structure of the virus. She also showed that the viral RNA was a single strand, not a double helix like DNA.
Franklin's work was usually unrecognized during her lifetime, but more recently she has been recognized for her work and her legacy continues to inspire scientists today.
The molecule now known as DNA was first identified in the 1860's by Swiss chemist Johann Friedrich Miescher, as he studied white blood cells.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 was awarded to James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for their discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. However, many believe Franklin's name should have been included in this group, as her work helped confirm the structure of DNA.
Frances Watson later admitted that they could not have made their discovery without her work and her data was used without her consent.
Franklin died suddenly of ovarian cancer at age 37 before the Nobel Prize was awarded on the discovery, and she did not receive credit for her work.
The discovery of DNA structure led to the emergence of the field of molecular biology and new diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, along with analysis of the genetic code.
https://newsroom.lmu.edu/administrative/sexism-in-science-was-rosalind-franklin-robbed-of-a-nobel-prize/#:~:text=Franklin%20was%20unaware%20that%20Wilkins,without%20any%20mention%20of%20Franklin.
https://www.history.com/news/rosalind-franklin-dna-discovery
https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/about/facts-figures/dr-rosalind-franklin/