Rosalind Franklin
“ The Dark Lady of DNA ”
Consequently , there arose conflicts with her research partner Maurice Wilkins , when working together on their project to build a double helix DNA model .
Subsequently , Wilkins began to work with English physicist Francis Crick and his partner , biologist James Watson . Without her permission , Wilkins showed his new partners Franklin ’ s ' Photo 51 ' along with her unpublished research , which they then used to create their Nobel Prize-winning DNA model of the double helix .
Many believe that DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick , however , there was an imperative contribution made by British scientist Rosalind Franklin .
Rosalind Franklin was born on July 25 , 1920 , and studied physics and chemistry at Cambridge University when she was 18 years old .
Franklin was never credited for her work until after her death when Crick expressed that her contribution was crucial . Franklin ’ s contribution to DNA research has revolutionized our society by allowing the investigation of diseases , genetic disorders , and new drugs which are necessary to the sustainability of a healthy society .
In May 1952 , one of her graduate students at King ’ s College , Raymond Gosling , took a picture showing how DNA scattered an x-ray beam ( this later became the famous ' Photo 51 ').
Franklin was hard-working but extremely stubborn , causing her to be nicknamed “ the dark lady of DNA ”, a label derived from the negative comments made by a coworker , and the unpopularity of her work .