Member-only story

Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA

Fletcher Mitchell

·4.8k Followers· Follow

Published in Brenda Maddox

5 min read · 1 month before

714 View Claps

75 Respond

Save

Listen

Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA

by Brenda Maddox

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3177 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	420 pages

Early Life and Education

Rosalind Franklin was born in London, England, on July 25, 1920. She was the daughter of wealthy Jewish parents, and she received a privileged education. Franklin attended St. Paul's Girls' School, where she excelled in science and mathematics. She then went on to study chemistry at Newnham College, Cambridge. Franklin graduated from Cambridge in 1941 with a degree in chemistry. She then went to work as a research assistant at the British Coal Utilisation Research Association.

Work on DNA

In 1951, Franklin joined the Medical Research Council's Unit for the Study of the Molecular Structure of Biological Systems at King's College London. She began working on the structure of DNA, using X-ray crystallography. Franklin's work was crucial in helping to determine the structure of DNA. She produced a series of X-ray diffraction patterns that showed the DNA molecule was a double helix. This discovery was a major breakthrough in understanding the structure of DNA and its role in genetics.

Overlooked and Overshadowed

Despite her crucial contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA, Franklin was not given the recognition she deserved. Her work was often overlooked and she was overshadowed by her male colleagues, James Watson and Francis Crick. Watson and Crick published a paper in 1953 that described the structure of DNA, and they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. Franklin was not included in the Nobel Prize, even though her work had been essential to their discovery.

Reasons for Franklin's Lack of Recognition

There are a number of reasons why Franklin was not given the recognition she deserved for her work on DNA. One reason is that she was a woman in a male-dominated field. In the 1950s, it was difficult for women to be taken seriously in science. Franklin was also a quiet and unassuming person, and she did not promote her work as aggressively as her male colleagues.

Legacy

Despite the lack of recognition she received during her lifetime, Rosalind Franklin's work has had a profound impact on science. Her discovery of the structure of DNA helped to lay the foundation for the field of molecular biology. Franklin's work has also inspired a new generation of women scientists. She is now recognized as one of the most important scientists of the 20th century.

Rosalind Franklin was a brilliant scientist who played a crucial role in the discovery of the structure of DNA. However, her contributions were often overlooked and she was overshadowed by her male colleagues. This article has shed light on Franklin's life and work, and explored the reasons why she was not given the recognition she deserved. Franklin's legacy is a reminder of the importance of giving women equal opportunities in science and of the need to recognize the contributions of all scientists, regardless of their gender.

### Here are some of the long descriptive keywords that have been used for the alt attribute:

* Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant scientist who played a crucial role in the discovery of the structure of DNA. * Franklin's X-ray diffraction patterns of DNA were crucial in helping to determine its structure. * Despite her crucial contributions, Franklin was not given the recognition she deserved for her work on DNA. * Franklin's work has inspired a new generation of women scientists.

### Here is the SEO title that has been used:

* Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA

This title is both creative and informative, and it is likely to attract readers who are interested in learning more about Rosalind Franklin and her work.

Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA

by Brenda Maddox

4.6 out of 5