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Rosalind

Short answer: Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer. She worked on the structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite.

Photo 51, an X-ray diffraction image of DNA taken in 1952 in her lab at King's College London by her PhD student Raymond Gosling, was shown to James Watson without her knowledge. Together with her data, it was key evidence for the double-helix model Watson and Francis Crick published in 1953. Watson, Crick and Maurice Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Franklin had died in 1958, and the prize isn't awarded posthumously. The footage shows portraits and lab scenes, with the presenter.

VideoWrite-up3 sources

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What should you know about Rosalind?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Photo 51 was taken in Franklin's lab in 1952.

    DD-093-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit C (Photo 51)

  2. Franklin died in 1958, before the 1962 Nobel.

    DD-093-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (1962 Nobel)

Video transcript: Rosalind: One X-Ray Photograph Helped Reveal the Shape of DNA

Rosalind Franklin was a pioneering chemist and X-ray crystallographer who made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. However she is perhaps best known for her work on DNA. DID YOU KNOW? Franklin's famous photograph known as Photo 51 played a crucial role in the discovery of the DNA double helix. James Watson and Francis Crick who later received the Nobel Prize for their work on DNA used Franklin's data as a key piece of evidence. Despite not being credited at the time Franklin's contributions to the understanding of DNA structure have gained recognition and she is celebrated for her groundbreaking work in molecular biology. NOW YOU KNOW!

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The write-up

One X-ray photograph helped reveal the shape of DNA. Watson and Crick used Rosalind Franklin's data without her knowledge.

  1. Exhibit A

    Crystallographer

    Franklin was a chemist and X-ray crystallographer.

  2. Exhibit B

    Broad work

    She studied DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite.

  3. Exhibit C

    Photo 51

    Photo 51, taken in her lab in 1952, showed DNA's helical pattern.

  4. Exhibit D

    Shown without consent

    Watson saw the image without her knowledge.

  5. Exhibit E

    1962 Nobel

    Watson, Crick and Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel; Franklin had died in 1958.

Questions people ask about Rosalind

What was Franklin's specialty?

Imaging molecules with X-rays.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Crystallographer) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin

Which of these did she also study?

Plus graphite and viruses.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Broad work) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin

When was Photo 51 taken?

At King's College London.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Photo 51) · Wikipedia: Photo 51

How did Watson see Photo 51?

It was shown to him.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Shown without consent) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin; Wikipedia: Photo 51

Why didn't Franklin share the 1962 Nobel?

It isn't given posthumously.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (1962 Nobel) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin; NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What was Franklin's specialty?

    1. X-ray crystallography
    2. Astronomy
    3. Surgery
    4. Geology
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. X-ray crystallography Imaging molecules with X-rays. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Crystallographer) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin

  2. Which of these did she also study?

    1. Coal
    2. Volcanoes
    3. Comets
    4. Bees
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Coal Plus graphite and viruses. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Broad work) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin

  3. When was Photo 51 taken?

    1. 1952
    2. 1932
    3. 1972
    4. 1962
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1952 At King's College London. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Photo 51) · Wikipedia: Photo 51

  4. How did Watson see Photo 51?

    1. Without her knowledge
    2. In a journal
    3. At her lecture
    4. She mailed it
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Without her knowledge It was shown to him. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Shown without consent) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin; Wikipedia: Photo 51

  5. Why didn't Franklin share the 1962 Nobel?

    1. She had died in 1958
    2. She declined
    3. She wasn't a scientist
    4. It wasn't awarded
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. She had died in 1958 It isn't given posthumously. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (1962 Nobel) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin; NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Rosalind." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-093, last updated Nov 26, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rosalind/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rosalind/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-093-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rosalind/#DD-093-F01

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