Rosalind Franklin: DNA's unsung

hero - Cláudio L. Guerra

Let’s Begin…

The discovery of the structure of DNA was one of the most important scientific achievements in
human history. The now-famous double helix is almost synonymous with Watson and Crick, two
of the scientists who won the Nobel prize for figuring it out. But there’s another name you may not
know: Rosalind Franklin. Cláudio L. Guerra shares the true story of the woman behind the helix.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Rosalind Franklin had a life full of challenges, not just scientifically but socially. She had to fight
prejudice in an environment dominated by men in a time when women were presumed to be
housewives and nothing more. Her success was recognized by many of her peers, but in the race
for the structure of DNA and the recognition of key innovators in this field, sexism played a major
role. 

Years after her death, Brenda Maddox and Anne Sayre worked on biographies about Franklin and
could clarify some aspects of her history that might otherwise have gone overlooked. Maddox’s
work gave rise to an interesting documentary by PBS’ NOVA called Secret of Photograph 51.

1. Rosalind Franklin’s contributions to science were exclusively in the field of biology. True or
false?

A. True: her only accomplishment was Photograph 51

B. False: she also worked with coal bombs during World War II

C. True: besides DNA, she worked with other biological molecules

D. False: she also did groundbreaking work in the field of crystallography

2. What was Franklin’s profession?

A. Biologist

B. Physicist

C. Chemist

D. Physician

3. Why wasn’t Franklin mentioned in the 1953 article by Watson and Crick?

A. She had nothing to do with their work

B. They obtained her data without her knowledge

C. Her data did not support a double helix hypothesis

D. They mentioned her, but the journal mistakenly excluded her name

4. Which of the following factors did NOT contribute to Franklin being left out of the famous 1953
paper?

A. Her lack of competence

B. The fact that she was a woman in an almost exclusively male environment

C. The fact that she clashed with a lab-mate who thought she was his assistant

D. The fact that Wilkins, Watson, and Crick took her data behind her back

5. Rosalind Franklin is an example of how hard it is for women to be accepted in the scientific
community. Can you name other women who made important discoveries in science? What did
they do?

6. If you were Wilkins, what would you have done when you got your hands on the Photo 51?

7. Explain why it is so important that we know the structure of DNA.

8. In 1953, the structure of the DNA molecule was announced to the world, changing the course
of human history forever. You may have heard that Watson and Crick were the scientists who
figured it out with the help of data provided by Rosalind Franklin. What are some ways we can
ensure the discoveries of marginalized people receive the appropriate credit? Do these problems
still exist in society? Write an argumentative essay to express your opinion (250 words)