Franklin

Definition

Rosalind Franklin was a British scientist whose X-ray diffraction images of DNA were critical in the discovery of its double helix structure. Her work provided key insights into the molecular structure of DNA.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Franklin used X-ray crystallography to capture images of DNA fibers, which revealed its helical structure.
2. Her famous Photo 51 showed that DNA is a double helix with two strands twisted around each other.
3. Franklin's research indicated that the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA lies on the outside of the molecule, while the nitrogenous bases are on the inside.
4. She worked at King's College London and made significant contributions to understanding viruses as well.
5. Although not fully recognized during her lifetime, Franklin's data and photographs greatly assisted Watson and Crick in building their model of DNA.

Review Questions

• What technique did Rosalind Franklin use to study the structure of DNA?
• What critical piece of evidence did Franklin's Photo 51 provide about the structure of DNA?
• How did Franklin's work contribute to the understanding of the arrangement of molecules within DNA?

Related terms

Watson and Crick: Scientists who built upon Franklin's data to propose the double helix model of DNA.

X-ray Crystallography: A technique used for determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal by scattering X-rays on it.

DNA Double Helix: The structure formed by double-stranded molecules of nucleic acids such as DNA.