By: Leslie Heinsen

Curricular Fit: Biology 30: Unit 3, Cells Chromosomes and DNA

Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born July 25, 1920. At fifteen, this inquisitive young woman decided to become a scientist, a career choice that was an unpopular field for women at the time. As an ambitious scholar Rosalind graduated from Cambridge in 1941, later earning her Doctorate in Physical Chemistry in 1945. After graduating she conducted research for the British Coal Utilization Research Association, leaving the BCURA in 1947 for a Paris research lab. In Paris, Rosalind worked with Jacques Mering, learning techniques of X-ray diffraction. X-ray diffraction was a fairly new technique being utilized by scientists to determine the precise structure of biological molecules. In 1950, Rosalind left the Paris lab, where she had enjoyed freedom not usually given to female scientists, to work on a "DNA project" at King’s College in London. Scientists in London at the time were not nearly as progressive as in France – There were male only lunchrooms, where the male scientists could exchange ideas and collaborate, while the few female scientists were exiled to the undergrad students cafeteria. It was at King’s College where Rosalind began to feel the limitations of being one of the few female scientists.

Rosalind’s difficulties at the lab began within the first few weeks of employment. John Randall, hired Rosalind to be his research associate, in his lab at King’s College. Because of Rosalind’s proficiency in X-ray crystallography, she was given the task of determining the structure of the DNA molecule. Another associate in the lab, Maurice Wilkins, was away when Rosalind was hired. When he returned, he thought her to be a technical assistant (as many women were), rather than his intellectual equal. This initial misunderstanding is thought to have jaded any future relationship. In spite of the tension that remained between the two, Rosalind continued to work at deciphering the structure of the DNA molecule. In 1952, Rosalind photographed the DNA molecule, suggesting it was helical in nature, with a phosphate sugar backbone. Rosalind, being thorough in her research, did not publish her findings at this point, electing to do further research on the structure of the molecule. It is now known that DNA comes in several different orientations, known as A, B, C, D and E DNA. At the time of Rosalind’s research, she was working with the B orientation of the molecule. However, it has been suggested that she also photographed the A form of the molecule, which does not have the perfect helical structure of the B form. It is believed this is the reason Rosalind wished to conduct further research.

Following the photographing of the B DNA helix, Rosalind delivered a lecture in which she discussed her unpublished results regarding the structure of the DNA molecule, that this form was a definite helix, with phosphates on the outside, linked by proteins. Watson attended this lecture, but was too distracted by Rosalind’s physical appearance to listen to her findings. It was not long after this lecture that Rosalind’s lab associate, Wilkins, "showed" Rosalind’s photo of the DNA molecule to Watson. This seemed to be the missing link and it gave Watson and his associate Crick the push they needed to publish the structure of DNA in the journal Nature.

Rosalind published an article supporting Watson and Crick’s findings- Rosalind’s own work was so similar, she offered the article to confirm the other lab’s discovery. Rosalind’s enthusiasm for the discovery of the DNA structure was without the knowledge that it was her own work that had acted as a stepping stone for Watson and Crick.

Several articles by Rosalind about the DNA molecule were subsequently published in the months that followed the April 25 publication but not long after she left the lab for other research avenues. Rosalind worked on the tobacco mosaic virus and the poliovirus in the years following. In 1958, at the age of 37, Rosalind’s scientific career was cut short by cancer, leading one to wonder what if?

Watson, Crick and Wilkins were given the Nobel Prize in 1962 for their discovery of the structure of DNA. No mention was given to Rosalind Franklin for her invaluable work. Rosalind Franklin played a crucial role in translating the structure of DNA and yet even now her name is rarely found along side Watson, Crick and Wilkins for her contribution to science.