Rosalind Franklin, a pioneering chemist and X-ray crystallographer, is depicted in this black-and-white portrait with a thoughtful expression, resting her chin on her hand and wearing a pearl necklace. Renowned for her critical contributions to understanding the structure of DNA, Franklin's work was instrumental in revealing the double-helix formation.
Rosalind Franklin, a pioneering chemist and X-ray crystallographer, is depicted in this black-and-white portrait with a thoughtful expression, resting her chin on her hand and wearing a pearl necklace. Renowned for her critical contributions to understanding the structure of DNA, Franklin's work was instrumental in revealing the double-helix formation.

Rosalind Elsie Franklin

Historical

Historical

Jul 25, 1920

-

Apr 16, 1958

Rosalind Franklin, a pioneering chemist and X-ray crystallographer, is depicted in this black-and-white portrait with a thoughtful expression, resting her chin on her hand and wearing a pearl necklace. Renowned for her critical contributions to understanding the structure of DNA, Franklin's work was instrumental in revealing the double-helix formation.

Rosalind Elsie Franklin

Historical

Historical

Jul 25, 1920

-

Apr 16, 1958

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Rosalind Franklin was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose images of DNA fibers were crucial in determining the molecule's structure. Franklin was born in London in 1920 in an influential Jewish family that stressed education incredibly. She displayed outstanding academic ability from a young age and was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she studied chemistry. Franklin later pursued a career that resulted in significant advances in molecular biology, coal, and viruses. Her methods and findings were instrumental in some of the most groundbreaking scientific advancements of the Twentieth Century.

Other early employers included the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, for which Franklin achieved a PhD in physical chemistry by analyzing the molecular structures of coal. This knowledge of crystalline materials proved beneficial when she changed her area of research to DNA. Following her postdoctoral period in Paris, where she developed her expertise in X-ray diffraction, she took up a position at King's College London in 1951. There, Franklin obtained some of the best images of DNA's structure by X-ray crystallography, especially photograph 51, which was instrumental in supporting the DNA double helix model by Watson and Crick in 1953.

Franklin's work on determining the structure of DNA was only partially appreciated during her lifetime because her contribution was overshadowed by her male counterparts, specifically Watson and Crick. Her later years were spent studying viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus and polio. Franklin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1956, and she continued her work until she died in 1958 at the age of 37. Unfortunately, Franklin passed away at age 37, but her contribution to the discovery of DNA has been recognized more and more over the years.

Quotes

"Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated."

"We are not going to speculate, we are going to wait, we are going to let the spots on this photograph tell us what the [DNA] structure is."

"In my view, all that is necessary for faith is the belief that by doing our best we shall succeed in our aims."

"It was with great regret that we have to announce the death...of DNA helix (crystalline)."

"I see no reason to believe that a creator of protoplasm or primeval matter, if such there be, has any reason to be interested in our insignificant race."

"My mind is not given to speculation but to seeing what the spots say."

"The discovery of the molecular structure of DNA will, I am sure, be of fundamental importance."

"I love the people, the country and the food...I could wander happily in France forever."

"I do not accept your definition of faith...your faith rests on the future of yourself and others as individuals, mine in the future and fate of our successors."

"An infinite variety of nucleotide sequences would be possible to explain the biological specificity of DNA."

"The laboratory is not a place for opinions."

"For a scientific life, nothing can be as important as the pursuit of truth."

"Let the facts speak for themselves."

"I think it is absolutely essential that science and ethics go hand in hand."

"You look at science as if you are trying to solve a puzzle."

FAQ

Who was Rosalind Franklin, and what was she most famous for?

Franklin is most famous for her analytical input to the discovery of the DNA structure, especially her work employing X-ray diffraction to take pictures, including "Photograph 51".

What was "Photograph 51"?

"Photograph 51" was an X-ray diffraction image of DNA taken by Franklin in 1952. It was instrumental in proving that DNA had a helical structure that spiraled in two strands.

In what way did Franklin participate in the discovery of DNA structure?

Franklin was conducting detailed X-ray diffraction studies at King's College London, which were crucial in revealing the helical structure of DNA, which Watson and Crick used to construct their model.

Why did Franklin not get the Nobel Prize?

Franklin did not receive the Nobel Prize because she passed away in 1958, and the prize cannot be awarded to a dead person. Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins shared the prize in 1962 for their research on DNA.

How was Franklin related to Maurice Wilkins?

Franklin and Wilkins were not very friendly throughout their professional tenure at King's College, mainly because of misunderstandings and rivalry over their DNA work.

What other scientific work did Franklin do besides DNA?

Yes, Franklin knew the importance of her work on DNA. She had observed the helical structure and was almost on the verge of identifying the double helix structure.

Did Franklin know that she was working on DNA?

Yes, Franklin knew the importance of her work on DNA. She had observed the helical structure and was almost on the verge of identifying the double helix structure.

Were Franklin collaborating with Watson and Crick?

Franklin did not collaborate with Watson and Crick. They stole her data that had never been published, including 'Photograph 51,' without her consent, which helped them crack the discovery.

What problems did Franklin encounter as a female scientist?

Franklin struggled with sexism throughout her career and was dismissed by her male counterparts. Her accomplishments were not appreciated during her lifetime because of prejudice against women and professional competition.

Today, what does Franklin leave behind?

Franklin's legacy has evolved. She is now rightly recognized as one of the major players in the discovery of the structure of DNA and is revered as a role model for women in science.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Rosalind Franklin was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose images of DNA fibers were crucial in determining the molecule's structure. Franklin was born in London in 1920 in an influential Jewish family that stressed education incredibly. She displayed outstanding academic ability from a young age and was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she studied chemistry. Franklin later pursued a career that resulted in significant advances in molecular biology, coal, and viruses. Her methods and findings were instrumental in some of the most groundbreaking scientific advancements of the Twentieth Century.

Other early employers included the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, for which Franklin achieved a PhD in physical chemistry by analyzing the molecular structures of coal. This knowledge of crystalline materials proved beneficial when she changed her area of research to DNA. Following her postdoctoral period in Paris, where she developed her expertise in X-ray diffraction, she took up a position at King's College London in 1951. There, Franklin obtained some of the best images of DNA's structure by X-ray crystallography, especially photograph 51, which was instrumental in supporting the DNA double helix model by Watson and Crick in 1953.

Franklin's work on determining the structure of DNA was only partially appreciated during her lifetime because her contribution was overshadowed by her male counterparts, specifically Watson and Crick. Her later years were spent studying viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus and polio. Franklin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1956, and she continued her work until she died in 1958 at the age of 37. Unfortunately, Franklin passed away at age 37, but her contribution to the discovery of DNA has been recognized more and more over the years.

Quotes

"Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated."

"We are not going to speculate, we are going to wait, we are going to let the spots on this photograph tell us what the [DNA] structure is."

"In my view, all that is necessary for faith is the belief that by doing our best we shall succeed in our aims."

"It was with great regret that we have to announce the death...of DNA helix (crystalline)."

"I see no reason to believe that a creator of protoplasm or primeval matter, if such there be, has any reason to be interested in our insignificant race."

"My mind is not given to speculation but to seeing what the spots say."

"The discovery of the molecular structure of DNA will, I am sure, be of fundamental importance."

"I love the people, the country and the food...I could wander happily in France forever."

"I do not accept your definition of faith...your faith rests on the future of yourself and others as individuals, mine in the future and fate of our successors."

"An infinite variety of nucleotide sequences would be possible to explain the biological specificity of DNA."

"The laboratory is not a place for opinions."

"For a scientific life, nothing can be as important as the pursuit of truth."

"Let the facts speak for themselves."

"I think it is absolutely essential that science and ethics go hand in hand."

"You look at science as if you are trying to solve a puzzle."

FAQ

Who was Rosalind Franklin, and what was she most famous for?

Franklin is most famous for her analytical input to the discovery of the DNA structure, especially her work employing X-ray diffraction to take pictures, including "Photograph 51".

What was "Photograph 51"?

"Photograph 51" was an X-ray diffraction image of DNA taken by Franklin in 1952. It was instrumental in proving that DNA had a helical structure that spiraled in two strands.

In what way did Franklin participate in the discovery of DNA structure?

Franklin was conducting detailed X-ray diffraction studies at King's College London, which were crucial in revealing the helical structure of DNA, which Watson and Crick used to construct their model.

Why did Franklin not get the Nobel Prize?

Franklin did not receive the Nobel Prize because she passed away in 1958, and the prize cannot be awarded to a dead person. Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins shared the prize in 1962 for their research on DNA.

How was Franklin related to Maurice Wilkins?

Franklin and Wilkins were not very friendly throughout their professional tenure at King's College, mainly because of misunderstandings and rivalry over their DNA work.

What other scientific work did Franklin do besides DNA?

Yes, Franklin knew the importance of her work on DNA. She had observed the helical structure and was almost on the verge of identifying the double helix structure.

Did Franklin know that she was working on DNA?

Yes, Franklin knew the importance of her work on DNA. She had observed the helical structure and was almost on the verge of identifying the double helix structure.

Were Franklin collaborating with Watson and Crick?

Franklin did not collaborate with Watson and Crick. They stole her data that had never been published, including 'Photograph 51,' without her consent, which helped them crack the discovery.

What problems did Franklin encounter as a female scientist?

Franklin struggled with sexism throughout her career and was dismissed by her male counterparts. Her accomplishments were not appreciated during her lifetime because of prejudice against women and professional competition.

Today, what does Franklin leave behind?

Franklin's legacy has evolved. She is now rightly recognized as one of the major players in the discovery of the structure of DNA and is revered as a role model for women in science.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Rosalind Franklin was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose images of DNA fibers were crucial in determining the molecule's structure. Franklin was born in London in 1920 in an influential Jewish family that stressed education incredibly. She displayed outstanding academic ability from a young age and was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she studied chemistry. Franklin later pursued a career that resulted in significant advances in molecular biology, coal, and viruses. Her methods and findings were instrumental in some of the most groundbreaking scientific advancements of the Twentieth Century.

Other early employers included the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, for which Franklin achieved a PhD in physical chemistry by analyzing the molecular structures of coal. This knowledge of crystalline materials proved beneficial when she changed her area of research to DNA. Following her postdoctoral period in Paris, where she developed her expertise in X-ray diffraction, she took up a position at King's College London in 1951. There, Franklin obtained some of the best images of DNA's structure by X-ray crystallography, especially photograph 51, which was instrumental in supporting the DNA double helix model by Watson and Crick in 1953.

Franklin's work on determining the structure of DNA was only partially appreciated during her lifetime because her contribution was overshadowed by her male counterparts, specifically Watson and Crick. Her later years were spent studying viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus and polio. Franklin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1956, and she continued her work until she died in 1958 at the age of 37. Unfortunately, Franklin passed away at age 37, but her contribution to the discovery of DNA has been recognized more and more over the years.

Quotes

"Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated."

"We are not going to speculate, we are going to wait, we are going to let the spots on this photograph tell us what the [DNA] structure is."

"In my view, all that is necessary for faith is the belief that by doing our best we shall succeed in our aims."

"It was with great regret that we have to announce the death...of DNA helix (crystalline)."

"I see no reason to believe that a creator of protoplasm or primeval matter, if such there be, has any reason to be interested in our insignificant race."

"My mind is not given to speculation but to seeing what the spots say."

"The discovery of the molecular structure of DNA will, I am sure, be of fundamental importance."

"I love the people, the country and the food...I could wander happily in France forever."

"I do not accept your definition of faith...your faith rests on the future of yourself and others as individuals, mine in the future and fate of our successors."

"An infinite variety of nucleotide sequences would be possible to explain the biological specificity of DNA."

"The laboratory is not a place for opinions."

"For a scientific life, nothing can be as important as the pursuit of truth."

"Let the facts speak for themselves."

"I think it is absolutely essential that science and ethics go hand in hand."

"You look at science as if you are trying to solve a puzzle."

FAQ

Who was Rosalind Franklin, and what was she most famous for?

Franklin is most famous for her analytical input to the discovery of the DNA structure, especially her work employing X-ray diffraction to take pictures, including "Photograph 51".

What was "Photograph 51"?

"Photograph 51" was an X-ray diffraction image of DNA taken by Franklin in 1952. It was instrumental in proving that DNA had a helical structure that spiraled in two strands.

In what way did Franklin participate in the discovery of DNA structure?

Franklin was conducting detailed X-ray diffraction studies at King's College London, which were crucial in revealing the helical structure of DNA, which Watson and Crick used to construct their model.

Why did Franklin not get the Nobel Prize?

Franklin did not receive the Nobel Prize because she passed away in 1958, and the prize cannot be awarded to a dead person. Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins shared the prize in 1962 for their research on DNA.

How was Franklin related to Maurice Wilkins?

Franklin and Wilkins were not very friendly throughout their professional tenure at King's College, mainly because of misunderstandings and rivalry over their DNA work.

What other scientific work did Franklin do besides DNA?

Yes, Franklin knew the importance of her work on DNA. She had observed the helical structure and was almost on the verge of identifying the double helix structure.

Did Franklin know that she was working on DNA?

Yes, Franklin knew the importance of her work on DNA. She had observed the helical structure and was almost on the verge of identifying the double helix structure.

Were Franklin collaborating with Watson and Crick?

Franklin did not collaborate with Watson and Crick. They stole her data that had never been published, including 'Photograph 51,' without her consent, which helped them crack the discovery.

What problems did Franklin encounter as a female scientist?

Franklin struggled with sexism throughout her career and was dismissed by her male counterparts. Her accomplishments were not appreciated during her lifetime because of prejudice against women and professional competition.

Today, what does Franklin leave behind?

Franklin's legacy has evolved. She is now rightly recognized as one of the major players in the discovery of the structure of DNA and is revered as a role model for women in science.

Life and achievements

Early life

Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born to a wealthy and prominent Sephardic Jewish family in Notting Hill, London. Her father, Ellis Franklin, was a banker and a politician, while her mother, Muriel Franklin, belonged to a rich family. From early childhood, Franklin was a bright child who performed well in school, especially in mathematics and sciences. She went to St. Paul's Girls' School, one of the few schools in London that offered higher sciences for girls at that time. Franklin received a good education in this environment; she was good in physics, chemistry, and Latin and had a lifetime passion for learning.

In 1938, Franklin joined Newnham College, Cambridge as a chemistry student. She had a chance to meet several famous scientists at Cambridge that would impact her early work. She completed her course in 1941 and passed with second-class honors, equivalent to a bachelor's degree. She stayed at Cambridge briefly before joining the British Coal Utilisation Research Association and doing her PhD work there. Her thesis on the structure of coal was followed by several papers and offered background information for further research on porous materials.

Franklin's post-World War II stay in Paris was critical to her scientific personality. Franklin, who joined the Ray Department in 1947, learned X-ray diffraction techniques under Jacques Mering, a French crystallographer. These skills were essential when she moved back to London in 1951 to work at King's College London, where she started working on DNA.

Legacy

Rosalind Franklin can be remembered as a great scientist, but she was not recognized as much as she deserved during her lifetime. Her work on the structure of DNA paved the way for the discovery of the double helix, even if her work was initially overlooked and credited to Watson, Crick, and Wilkins. However, historians, scientists, and the general public have come to recognize Franklin's essential contribution to molecular biology.

Therefore, Franklin's legacy is not just in DNA. Her later work on viruses, especially TMV and poliovirus, was pioneering and formed the basis of most of the current-day virology. Her passion for science in light of her terminal illness showed her spirit and her pursuit of research. Franklin was also a role model for women in science. She worked in a man's world and demonstrated that women can perform complex scientific research, and her life story is a symbol of women scientists in the middle of the twentieth century.

Today, many people know Rosalind Franklin as a woman who contributed to the development of science. Her work has been fundamental in studying the structure of DNA, RNA, and viruses and has significantly impacted the field of genetics and the creation of new treatments. She is known as a great scientist and the first woman to have worked in chemistry, physics, and biology. In her honor, several awards, scholarships, and institutions have been established to motivate the upcoming generations of scientists.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
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Milestone moments

Jul 1, 1945

PhD from Cambridge: Breakthrough in Coal Research
Rosalind Franklin received her PhD from Cambridge in 1945 after researching the physical chemistry of coal.
Franklin's thesis was conducted at the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, where he looked at the microstructure of coal and how it responds to conditions like temperature and pressure.
Her work showed how coal's structure impacted its permeability and application in industrial uses such as gas mask filtration during the war.

These early studies revealed Franklin's ability to analyze data, and it was her first exposure to X-ray diffraction, a method she would later master in her DNA work.
Her work was valued, and she published several papers that were still relevant in material science dealing with coal.
The knowledge she gained in the structure of carbon materials provided her with an excellent background for her subsequent work involving DNA and viruses.

Gaining her PhD was a significant achievement in Franklin's early career, indicating her graduation from a promising student to an accomplished scientist with expertise in X-ray crystallography.
This technique was critical to her later success.

Feb 14, 1947

Postdoctoral Research in Paris: Controlling X-ray Crystallography
In February 1947, Franklin started postdoctoral work at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l’État in Paris with Jacques Mering, a famous French crystallographer.
This was a significant period in her work as Franklin developed a mastery of X-ray crystallography, a method she would later employ to study DNA.

Mering taught Franklin more sophisticated X-ray diffraction methods, which she used to analyze structures of carbon and graphite.
Her work provided a new understanding of atoms' structure in carbonaceous materials and advanced the field of material science.
Franklin's increasing mastery of this work and its accomplishments led to her being acknowledged as an expert in X-ray crystallography; she authored several papers in this field during this period.

Franklin received many new opportunities and valuable lessons in Paris, which influenced her life and work.
Her stay in Paris cemented her position as a skilled and precise scientist and paved the way for her transfer to King's College London, where she would use her crystallography to analyze DNA.
Her stay in Paris was one of the most important stages in her evolution into one of the leading researchers in the field of structural biology.

May 1, 1952

Photograph 51 Captured: The Key to DNA's Structure
In May 1952, Rosalind Franklin took what would turn out to be one of the most iconic X-ray diffraction images ever taken—Photograph 51.
This picture was captured at King's College London during the research of DNA structures, and it offered the most evident proof of DNA's double helix structure.
Franklin's painstaking studies on DNA's "B" form, the biologically active form, showed an X-shape pattern that indicated the helical structure of the molecule.

Franklin used X-ray crystallography to identify the structure of DNA through the diffraction patterns of fibers.
"Photograph 51" was the most significant discovery because it best illustrated the DNA helix structure.
However, Franklin's work was disclosed to James Watson and Francis Crick without her permission, and they developed their now-famous model of DNA in early 1953.

This moment is one of Franklin's most important scientific accomplishments, but she received credit for it after her death.
Today, "Photograph 51" is recognized as a milestone in the discovery of the structure of DNA and as evidence of Franklin's indispensable but unacknowledged contribution to the history of molecular biology.

Mar 6, 1953

The Last Word on DNA Structure
By March 1953, Franklin had amassed enough evidence to establish that DNA was helical and the strands twined in a double helix.
In her research notes and a series of drafts of her paper for Nature, she explained how her X-ray diffraction studies of the 'A' and 'B' forms of DNA supported the spiral model.
Franklin did not construct models of the physical kind, as did Watson and Crick, but her empirical data corresponded to the structure they suggested.

Franklin's work helped to determine that the phosphate groups of the DNA molecule were on the outside while the bases were packed inside, a significant piece of the puzzle in understanding the molecule.
Her work appeared in Nature just a year after the publication of Watson and Crick's paper, offering experimental evidence for the proposed model.
This is Franklin's penultimate discovery before she can reveal the structure of DNA.

If Franklin had not been having her research published without her consent, she might have made the final leap herself.
Her role in this scientific discovery is now crucial to discovering the double helix.

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