Rosalind Franklin.

Sara Rowe

Rosalind Franklin

When you think of who discovered DNA, the names Watson and Cricke may come to mind. In reality, many other scientists’ research lead to their discovery. That information was not necessarily given freely. When Watson saw a picture of DNA taken by Rosalind Franklin a “light bulb” went on. It was then that he realized exactly what it looked like and was able to publish his results. Unfortunately, Rosalind did not offer this information to Watson and Cricke. It was stolen from her. She did not receive credit for the work she had done with DNA and therefore has gone unnoticed in most biology classes.

On July 25 1920, Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born in London England. She excelled in school, especially chemistry and biology. At the age of 15, Franklin had decided to become a scientist even thought her father wanted her to be a social worker. (Maisel,1) Her father disapproved of a University Education for women and initially refused to pay for admission. (Maisel, 1) Eventually he agreed to pay for, but only after constant pressure from her mother and aunt. (Sayre, 1) It was then that she attended Newnham College in Cambridge in 1938. (Maisel, 1)

Following her years of education, she had many accomplishments in her career as a scientist. Franklin’s studies lead to major discoveries about the properties of coal, the density of DNA and more importantly, it’s helical conformation. (Sayre, 1) Unfortunately, most biology classes credit the discovery of DNA’s structure solely to Watson and Cricke. The importance of Rosalind Franklin’s work is simply ignored.

Immediately after her graduation from Newnham College in 194, she began work at the British Coal Utilization Research Association. She conducted fundamental studies of carbon and graphite, which lead to her doctorate in Physical Chemistry earned at Cambridge University.

Following her time at Cambridge, Franklin spent three years (1947-1950) at the Laboratoire Central des Sevices Chemiques de L’Etat in Paris where she learned techniques for x-ray diffraction. (Maire, 1) In this process, “ the location of atoms in a crystal can be precisely mapped by looking at the image of the crystal under and x-ray beam.” (Ardell, 1) Rosalind Franklin soon became known as the world’s best crystallographer. (Parshall, 72) This would become vital to her career in the future since it was the technique used to get a general idea of DNA’s shape.

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Shortly after this training in Paris, Franklin returned to England as a research associate. She had been offered a position in a laboratory at King’s College in Cambridge and would eventually produce her most influential work there. (Maire, 1) She was asked to join a team of Scientists studying living cells and was assigned to work with a graduate student, Maurice Wilkins, on DNA. (Sayre, 1) When she joined the project, Maurice Wilkins was on vacation. When he returned, he immediately assumed that she was merely an assistant. (Sayre, 1) In fact, Franklin alone was given the task of determining the elusive structure of DNA. Even though she was thought of as an assistant, she was his peer. (Ardell, 1) This relationship was depicted in Watson’s story, “The Double Helix.” Even though they were truly equal, it was apparent that women were not treated with the same amount of resect men that men were offered. (Ardell, 1) For example, females were not allowed to have lunch with male colleagues because the dining room was for men only. (Parshall, 74) Franklin rebelled against this treatment, and refused to share her data with Wilkins unless she was treated as an equal. (Parshall, 74) The tension this relationship caused would eventually be beneficial for the Watson and Cricke teams. (Sayre, 1)

Despite the fact they were “barred from doing original research,” Watson and Cricke were determined to become famous by discovering its structure. Franklin had already made amazing progress in this field. Using the poor equipment at King’s College, she was able to “rig up a system for taking high resolution photographs of single fibers of DNA.” From these pictures she was able to determine the sugar phosphate backbone of DNA lies outside the molecule. (Write, 172) These pictures also showed the molecule’s helical shape. (Write, 172) After Watson attended a lecture presented by Rosalind Franklin, they spent 24 hours building what they believed to be an accurate representation of the molecule. Unfortunately Watson did not take notes and “disastrously misremembered portions of what Franklin said.” (Sayre, 1) Their first attempt was a failure. Watson and Cricke had built a three-chain DNA molecule with a backbone on the inside. So when they approached her with what they believed to be a correct model, “they were quickly deflated.” Franklin pointed out they had provided “only a tiny fraction of the necessary water content.” (Sayre, 1) For the next year Watson and Cricke did not work on the DNA molecule. (Parshall, 73) Following the attempt of a colleague to determine the evasive structure, Watson and Cricke began the process again. (Parshall, 173) Only this time they went to Wilkins for help. “When Watson came calling in January 1953, Wilkins revealed he had been quietly coping Franklin’s data.” When Watson saw one of the photos, his mouth fell open. Ultimately, trial and error produced a working model of DNA, but the information they used was based on Franklin’s data. “It was March 7, 1953 that Cricke announced to the patrons of a local pub, that he and his confrere had found ‘the secret of life.’” (Parshall, 173) Soon after, the results were published into an article in Nature, along with a supporting article from Franklin. (Maisel, 1)

Rosalind Franklin continued her previous work. She collaborated on studies of the structure of the tobacco Mosaic Virus and also helped determine that RNA is a single-stranded helical molecule. (Sayre, 1)

While on a visit to the United States later in life, she experienced episodes of pain in her abdomen. In the autumn of 1956, she learned she had ovarian cancer. Franklin continued her research up until only a few weeks before her death on April 16, 1958 at the age of 37. (Sayre, 1)

The Nobel Prize was awarded to Watson and Cricke, in 1962. Rosalind Franklin never received credit for the work she had accomplished with the structure of DNA. This prestigious award it cannot be given to the dead. Ironically Wilkins was also awarded for his collaboration with Watson and Cricke. “The Nobel Committee credited him with Franklin’s stellar work as well as his own.” (Parshell, 74) In Crick’s view, “If Franklin had lived, it would have been impossible to give the prize to Maurice and not to her, because she did the key experimental work.” (Write, 172)

Even though Rosalind Franklin is no longer alive, research continues due to her previous work. If the structure of DNA had not been discovered, biotechnology would not be where it is today. By 1952 it was known the DNA had an exclusive role, as the substance capable of storing all the information needed to create a living being. It is considered to be the fine line between the living and the nonliving. Watson went on to teach at Harvard and eventually headed the National Institutes of Health’s Human Genome project. This Project was begun with the intention of mapping out every gene in a human, and eventually learn their functions. This is where the field of bioethics is introduced. Many beneficial things may result from this knowledge. For example, with this information we may be able to cure many diseases and birth defects. Studying how the DNA is altered to cause these conditions will help scientist develop what is necessary to prevent these things. This project was recently completed which caused the public to question where the line must be drawn. With this new information, a couple may be able to pre-select the gender of their baby or maybe even certain traits. The new question is, “When has science gone too far?” Even though the mapping of the human genome may bring enormous benefits, it can be assumed that someone will want to abuse this new knowledge. As always we must accept the good with the bad.

Discovering the structure of DNA and thus how it is able to replicate has also made cloning possible. This was demonstrated with the sheep named Dolly. It was cloned using DNA extracted from an adult sheep and inserted into an unfertilized egg. This process could be very beneficial in the future. We may be able to keep certain species from becoming extinct. As with any other situation, there is also a negative side. What if people want to clone themselves? (As pictured in the movie Multiplicity) There is a fine line between what is ethical and can be allowed and what cannot. For example, it would be unethical for people to continue to clone themselves in an effort to elude death. (Assuming this would be possible.) Would it be unethical the clone in order to produce needed tissues or a certain blood type?

Without Rosalind Franklin’s work, this information would not have been discovered for at least several years until the technology caught up with the project. It is because of her work that we may one day be able to cure birth defects, cancer, or other genetically related diseases. Unfortunately she has not received the recognition she deserves for her contributions to the scientific field. She spent most of her short-lived life working in the laboratory and most biology classes do not attribute any of her hard work to her. She has greatly impacted the world and everyone’s future.

Stephanie Luchenfield

1. Were there any parts of the Paper that need to be more clearly explained? (ie scientific terms)? I am familiar with scientific terms so I understood what you were talking about.

Did it adequately explain why she was such an important person in history? Yes

Was it easy to follow? I found a lot of it hard to follow mainly because there were some parts that felt like I was reading a textbook.

What was your favorite part of the paper? I liked the part when you really explain the cloning process on regular terms by related what you were talking about with the sheep and the movie.

. It was also where she “crossed paths” with Maurice Wilkins.(maire, 1)