Rosalind Franklin was a British scientist who made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology, particularly in the area of X-ray crystallography. She was born in London in 1920 and grew up in a family that valued education and intellectual pursuits. From a young age, she showed a natural aptitude for science and mathematics and was encouraged to pursue these subjects by her parents.
Franklin attended Cambridge University, where she studied physics and earned a degree in 1941. After graduation, she began working at the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, where she conducted research on the physical properties of coal and other materials. In 1947, she moved to Paris to work at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l'Etat, where she continued her research on the properties of various substances.
In 1951, Franklin began working at King's College in London as a research associate in the biophysics unit. It was there that she began working with X-ray crystallography, a technique used to study the three-dimensional structure of molecules. Franklin was instrumental in developing this technique, and her work with X-ray crystallography played a crucial role in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
At King's College, Franklin worked with Maurice Wilkins, who was also studying the structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography. The two had a contentious relationship, with Franklin feeling that Wilkins did not properly credit her for her contributions to their joint work. Despite this tension, Franklin made significant progress in her research, producing high-quality X-ray images of DNA that provided important insights into its structure.
In 1952, Franklin's colleague, Rosalind Franklin, produced a high-quality X-ray image of DNA that was known as Photograph 51. This image, which was taken with the help of Franklin's colleague Raymond Gosling, provided the first clear evidence that DNA had a helical structure. This discovery was a major breakthrough in the field of molecular biology and was a crucial step towards understanding the function of DNA and how it is replicated.
Franklin's work on DNA was cut short when she left King's College in 1953 to work at Birkbeck College in London. She continued her research on the structure of viruses and other molecules, but her work on DNA was taken over by others. Unfortunately, Franklin's contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA were not fully recognized during her lifetime, as her colleagues James Watson and Francis Crick were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for their work on the structure of DNA.
Despite this oversight, Franklin's work continues to be recognized as a crucial contribution to the field of molecular biology. Her work with X-ray crystallography paved the way for many important discoveries in the field, and her dedication to scientific research has been an inspiration to many. In addition to her scientific achievements, Franklin was known for her intelligence, wit, and independence, and she remains a role model for young women interested in science and engineering.