How was the shape of DNA worked out?
The double-helix structure of DNA was first proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, drawing heavily upon experimental data gathered by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling, as well as contributions from Maurice Wilkins. Franklin's X-ray diffraction images, notably Photo 51, provided crucial insights into the molecular conformation of nucleic acids. This breakthrough emerged from a broader convergence of physics, chemistry, and genetics that defined the birth of molecular biology.
What we know
- The double-helix structure of DNA was first proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick. [3, 5]
- Rosalind Franklin's work on X-ray diffraction images of DNA, particularly Photo 51 taken by her student Raymond Gosling, was central to discovering the double helix. [3, 5]
- Maurice Wilkins showed Photo 51 to James Watson without Rosalind Franklin's permission. [5]
- Francis Crick, James Watson, and Maurice Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on DNA. [5]
Still open
- Rosalind Franklin's contributions were largely unrecognized during her lifetime, sparking ongoing historical controversies regarding credit for the Nobel award and professional attitudes toward female scientists.
Where to go next
- whoWho was Rosalind Franklin?
- how we knowWhat is Photo 51?
- whenHow did molecular biology begin?
- the bigger pictureWhat are nucleic acids?
- how it workedHow do proteins interact with DNA?
- an unexpected connectionHow did coal research help unlock the genetic code?Before capturing famous X-ray diffraction images of DNA, Rosalind Franklin spent years studying the molecular structure of coal and graphite to earn her PhD.
Sources
- [1]history of molecular biology (Wikidata Q866982) · CC0 1.0
- [2]History of molecular biology · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [3]Nucleic acid double helix · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [4]The Double Helix · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [5]Rosalind Franklin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Your path
- Why do some volcanoes explode and others not?
- How was the shape of DNA worked out?