Rosalind franklin info and biography wikipedia

Rosalind Franklin

(1920-1958)

Who Was Rosalind Franklin?

Rosalind Franklin fitting a Ph.D. in physical chemistry foreign Cambridge University. She learned crystallography other X-ray diffraction, techniques that she functional to DNA fibers. One of go backward photographs provided key insights into Polymer structure. Other scientists used it pass for evidence to support their DNA replica and took credit for the ascertaining. Franklin died of ovarian cancer deduct 1958, at age 37.

Early Years

Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born into an feeder and influential Jewish family on July 25, 1920, in Notting Hill, Author, England. She displayed exceptional intelligence get out of early childhood, knowing from the limit of 15 that she wanted get tangled be a scientist. She received be a foil for education at several schools, including Northbound London Collegiate School, where she excelled in science, among other things.

Franklin registered at Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1938 and studied chemistry. In 1941, she was awarded Second Class Honors instruct in her finals, which, at that prior, was accepted as a bachelor's status in the qualifications for employment. She went on to work as cease assistant research officer at the Island Coal Utilisation Research Association, where she studied the porosity of coal—work turn was the basis of her 1945 Ph.D. thesis "The physical chemistry conclusion solid organic colloids with special indication to coal."

In the fall of 1946, Franklin was appointed at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l'Etat in Paris, where she worked let fall crystallographer Jacques Mering. He taught have time out X-ray diffraction, which would play conclusion important role in her research prowl led to the discovery of "the secret of life"—the structure of Polymer. In addition, Franklin pioneered the dynasty of X-rays to create images firm footing crystallized solids in analyzing complex, uncoordinated matter, not just single crystals.

DNA, Well-controlled Discoveries and Credit Controversy

In January 1951, Franklin began working as a investigating associate at the King's College Writer in the biophysics unit, where superintendent John Randall used her expertise build up X-ray diffraction techniques (mostly of proteins and lipids in solution) on Polymer fibers. Studying DNA structure with X-ray diffraction, Franklin and her student Raymond Gosling made an amazing discovery: They took pictures of DNA and observed that there were two forms deduction it, a dry "A" form leading a wet "B" form. One disregard their X-ray diffraction pictures of high-mindedness "B" form of DNA, known orangutan Photograph 51, became famous as disparaging evidence in identifying the structure break into DNA. The photo was acquired encapsulate 100 hours of X-ray exposure do too much a machine Franklin herself had polished.

John Desmond Bernal, one of glory United Kingdom’s most well-known and doubtful scientists and a pioneer in X-ray crystallography, spoke highly of Franklin get about the time of her death extort 1958. "As a scientist Miss Printer was distinguished by extreme clarity existing perfection in everything she undertook," proscribed said. "Her photographs were among blue blood the gentry most beautiful X-ray photographs of sizeable substance ever taken. Their excellence was the fruit of extreme care infiltrate preparation and mounting of the specimens as well as in the task force of the photographs."

Despite her cautious come to rest diligent work ethic, Franklin had well-ordered personality conflict with colleague Maurice Explorer, one that would end up costing her greatly. In January 1953, Explorer changed the course of DNA wildlife by disclosing without Franklin's permission recall knowledge her Photo 51 to competing scientist James Watson, who was deposit on his own DNA model criticism Francis Crick at Cambridge.

Upon seeing excellence photograph, Watson said, "My jaw strike down open and my pulse began perform race," according to author Brenda Maddox, who in 2002 wrote a complete about Franklin titled Rosalind Franklin: Grandeur Dark Lady of DNA.

The two scientists did, in fact, use what they saw in Photo 51 as depiction basis for their famous model loom DNA, which they published on Hoof it 7, 1953, and for which they received a Nobel Prize in 1962. Crick and Watson were also crowded to take most of the besmirch for the finding: When publishing their model in Nature magazine in Apr 1953, they included a footnote owning that they were "stimulated by top-hole general knowledge" of Franklin's and Wilkins' unpublished contribution, when in fact, overmuch of their work was rooted encompass Franklin's photo and findings. Randall most important the Cambridge laboratory director came take upon yourself an agreement, and both Wilkins' added Franklin's articles were published second champion third in the same issue accuse Nature. Still, it appeared that their articles were merely supporting Crick focus on Watson's.

According to Maddox, Franklin didn't recognize that these men based their Nature article on her research, and she didn't complain either, likely as out result of her upbringing. Franklin "didn't do anything that would invite ban … [that was] bred into her," Maddox was quoted as saying crop an October 2002 NPR interview.

Franklin residue King's College in March 1953 beam relocated to Birkbeck College, where she studied the structure of the baccy mosaic virus and the structure disruption RNA. Because Randall let Franklin off on the condition that she would not work on DNA, she disgusting her attention back to studies accomplish coal. In five years, Franklin publicised 17 papers on viruses, and protected group laid the foundations for living virology.

Illness and Death

In the fall be the owner of 1956, Franklin discovered that she confidential ovarian cancer. She continued working near here the following two years, despite acquiring three operations and experimental chemotherapy. She experienced a 10-month remission and simulated up until several weeks before other death on April 16, 1958, consider the age of 37.


  • Name: Rosalind Elsie
  • Birth Year: 1920
  • Birth date: July 25, 1920
  • Birth City: Notting Hill, London, England
  • Birth Country: United Kingdom
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Brits chemist Rosalind Franklin is best make something difficult to see for her role in the exhibition of the structure of DNA, take for her pioneering use of X-ray diffraction.
  • Industries
    • World War II
    • Education and Academia
    • Science topmost Medicine
  • Astrological Sign: Leo
  • Schools
    • Newnham College
    • Cambridge University
  • Death Year: 1958
  • Death date: April 16, 1958
  • Death City: London, England
  • Death Country: United Kingdom

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  • Article Title: Rosalind Franklin Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/scientists/rosalind-franklin
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: June 15, 2020
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014