Question: Which three scientists discovered the double helix structure of DNA?
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James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin.
The discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is one of the most significant achievements in the history of science, forming the foundation of modern molecular biology. This groundbreaking revelation was made by three scientists: James Watson, Francis Crick, and Rosalind Franklin. Their collective efforts, combined with the contributions of other scientists, culminated in the elucidation of the now-iconic double helical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
James Watson, an American biologist, and Francis Crick, a British physicist, were both working at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge when they became deeply interested in uncovering the mystery of DNA’s structure. While they used various sources of information in their quest, a critical piece of the puzzle came from Rosalind Franklin.
Rosalind Franklin, a chemist and X-ray crystallographer, was working at King’s College London with Maurice Wilkins. Franklin was an expert in using X-ray diffraction to analyze the structure of molecules. One of her photographs, famously known as “Photograph 51,” provided a clear X-ray diffraction image of DNA. This image was instrumental in revealing the helical nature of DNA.
Though Watson and Crick were not directly collaborating with Franklin, they had access to her photograph, which provided them with crucial insights. Combining this with their knowledge from other studies, Watson and Crick deduced the antiparallel and complementary nature of the DNA strands, leading them to propose the double helix model of DNA in 1953.
The discovery was monumental and set the stage for an explosion of research in genetics and molecular biology. In 1962, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Watson, Crick, and Wilkins for their contributions to the discovery. Regrettably, Rosalind Franklin had passed away by then (in 1958), and since the Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously, she did not share in the formal recognition. Nevertheless, the scientific community and history have since acknowledged Franklin’s indispensable role in this groundbreaking discovery. Her meticulous work and “Photograph 51” remain iconic in the annals of scientific research.
