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Questions and Answers
What was the primary scientific technique used by Rosalind Franklin to contribute to the understanding of DNA?
What was the primary scientific technique used by Rosalind Franklin to contribute to the understanding of DNA?
Which of the following statements about Rosalind Franklin's educational background is true?
Which of the following statements about Rosalind Franklin's educational background is true?
During which year did Rosalind Franklin begin her significant research on DNA at King's College, London?
During which year did Rosalind Franklin begin her significant research on DNA at King's College, London?
What was the nature of the collaboration at King's College, where Franklin conducted her DNA research?
What was the nature of the collaboration at King's College, where Franklin conducted her DNA research?
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What critical evidence did Rosalind Franklin provide that illustrated the structure of DNA?
What critical evidence did Rosalind Franklin provide that illustrated the structure of DNA?
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What was the significance of Rosalind Franklin's contributions to the discovery of DNA structure?
What was the significance of Rosalind Franklin's contributions to the discovery of DNA structure?
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Which components make up the structure of DNA?
Which components make up the structure of DNA?
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What was a major mystery surrounding DNA before Crick and Watson's discovery?
What was a major mystery surrounding DNA before Crick and Watson's discovery?
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What year did Crick and Watson announce their discovery of the DNA double helix?
What year did Crick and Watson announce their discovery of the DNA double helix?
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Which of the following fields did Crick and Watson integrate to solve the structure of DNA?
Which of the following fields did Crick and Watson integrate to solve the structure of DNA?
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What significant contribution did Francis Crick make during his early career?
What significant contribution did Francis Crick make during his early career?
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What partnership was formed in 1951 that significantly contributed to molecular biology?
What partnership was formed in 1951 that significantly contributed to molecular biology?
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In what year did Watson and Crick co-publish their landmark paper on DNA?
In what year did Watson and Crick co-publish their landmark paper on DNA?
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Which prestigious prize did Francis Crick receive in 1962?
Which prestigious prize did Francis Crick receive in 1962?
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What leadership role did James Watson take on in 1989?
What leadership role did James Watson take on in 1989?
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Which major concept did Crick state was key to molecular biology?
Which major concept did Crick state was key to molecular biology?
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What was James Watson's academic focus during his time at the University of Chicago?
What was James Watson's academic focus during his time at the University of Chicago?
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What position did Watson hold at Harvard in 1960?
What position did Watson hold at Harvard in 1960?
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Who was responsible for taking the first clear image of DNA's crystalline structure?
Who was responsible for taking the first clear image of DNA's crystalline structure?
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What key feature of the DNA structure did Rosalind Franklin determine?
What key feature of the DNA structure did Rosalind Franklin determine?
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What was a significant outcome of the shared discoveries among Watson, Crick, and Wilkins in 1962?
What was a significant outcome of the shared discoveries among Watson, Crick, and Wilkins in 1962?
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What was the nature of Franklin's contribution after she moved to Birkbeck College?
What was the nature of Franklin's contribution after she moved to Birkbeck College?
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Why was Rosalind Franklin not awarded the Nobel Prize?
Why was Rosalind Franklin not awarded the Nobel Prize?
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Study Notes
Rosalind Franklin
- British chemist
- Made key contributions to the discovery of DNA structure
- Work was largely unrecognized until after her death
- Born in London, 1920
- Graduated from Cambridge with a degree in physical chemistry
- Conducted research on the chemical structure of coal and graphite
- Earned her doctorate from Cambridge in 1945
- Moved to Paris, 1947, to specialize in X-ray crystallography
X-ray Crystallography
- Franklin used X-ray crystallography to examine the crystalline structure of substances
- Used to determine the molecular structure of substances
- Expertise proved pivotal in understanding DNA
DNA "Race"
- 1950s, many scientists were working to understand the molecular structure of DNA
- 1951, Franklin began photographing DNA strands at King's College London
Franklin's Contribution
- Key X-ray diffraction images, taken in 1952, provided evidence of DNA's helical structure
- This was a fundamental discovery about DNA
- Her work was not immediately recognized by all scientists
Quotes
- "Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated." - Rosalind Franklin
Francis Crick
- Studied physics at University College London
- Worked on water viscosity during World War 2
- Recruited to the Royal Navy during WWII
- Retrained in biology after the war
- Joined the Cavendish Laboratory in 1949 to research X-ray diffraction in proteins
- Met James Watson in 1951
- Began working on DNA together
- Made significant contributions to understanding the structure of DNA
- Made key contributions to the study of genetics
- Moved to California in 1976 and studied developmental neurobiology and human consciousness
James Watson
- Started university at age 15 at the University of Chicago
- Earned a zoology degree in 1947
- Earned a PhD in virus research in 1950
- Joined the Cavendish Laboratory in 1951
- Formed a collaborative partnership with Francis Crick
- Published a landmark paper with Crick about the structure of DNA in 1953
- Briefly moved to California
- Returned to the Cavendish to work on virus construction
- Became a biology professor at Harvard in 1960
- Wrote influential biological texts
- Led the Human Genome Project in 1989
Crick and Watson Quotes
- "The genetic code is...the key to molecular biology" - Francis Crick, 1966
- "In science there is only one answer and that has to be correct" - James Watson, 1987
Crick & Watson Milestones
- 1949: Crick begins PhD at Cambridge, meets Watson
- 1953: Crick and Watson co-publish the landmark paper on the structure of DNA
- 1962: Crick receives the Nobel Prize
- 1972 & 1975: Crick awarded several medals from the Royal Society
- 1977: Crick becomes a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- 1950: Watson completes his PhD in viral expert research
- 1953: Watson and Crick discover DNA structure
- 1953-1956: Watson lectures in biology at Caltech and Harvard
- 1968/1989: Watson conducts biological research and leads the Human Genome Project
The Discovery of DNA Structure
- Crick and Watson's discovery of the DNA double helix was a monumental scientific advancement
- DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, plays a crucial role in determining heredity in all living things
- 1944: US Immunologist Oswald Avery discovers DNA carries genetic information
- 1951: Crick and Watson meet, initiating a global race to discover DNA's structure
- 1953: Crick and Watson announce their discovery of the double helix structure
- Crick famously said, "We have discovered the secret of life."
DNA Structure
- Composed of a sugar-phosphate backbone
- Four bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C)
Difficulties in DNA Research
- Scientists knew DNA could pass on genetic information and make copies of itself
- They did not understand how the individual components assembled together
- They did not understand how the molecule replicated
- This was a key challenge that they sought to solve
Crick and Watson
- Approached the problem by using their combined, diverse knowledge
- They used viral genetics, physics, and X-ray crystallography
- Successfully created 3D models of DNA
- The first two attempts did not work
- Rosalind Franklin's work was crucial to the success of the final model
Importance of the Discovery
- The discovery of the double helix opened up new avenues of research into:
- Gene sequencing
- Genetic engineering
- Inherited medical conditions
The Most Beautiful X-ray Photographs
- Photograph 51 was the first clear image of the structure of DNA
- Taken by Rosalind Franklin in 1952
- Considered one of the most important photographs in science
Rosalind Franklin's Contribution
- Determined that DNA was a helix composed of two strands
- Determined that the backbone of the structure was on the outside of the molecule
- This was critical information for understanding the double helix model
- Early 1953, Franklin's work was shared with James Watson and Francis Crick
- Franklin died before her work could be fully recognized
Maurice Wilkins' Role
- Member of the research team that took X-ray photos of DNA
- Early 1953, Wilkins shared Franklin's Photograph 51 with Watson and Crick
- This provided crucial information that they used to create their DNA model
Importance of the Discoveries
- Watson, Crick, and Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize for their work on DNA's structure
- Only men received the Nobel Prize because it cannot be awarded posthumously
- Franklin's work significantly advanced the study of viruses
- Franklin's discoveries provided critical contributions to one of the greatest scientific discoveries of all time.
Beyond DNA
- Franklin moved to Birkbeck College to investigate the structure of viruses
- Created a model for the molecular structure of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)
- Her work proved to be accurate
Additional Information
- Maurice Wilkins: Born and grew up in New Zealand, studied in the UK. Won a Nobel Prize in 1962
- Franklin received a $13,000 grant to study polio
- Franklin bequeathed $4,000 to support a fellow scientist, Aaron Klug, in his work
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Description
Explore the remarkable contributions of British chemist Rosalind Franklin in the discovery of DNA's structure. Despite her pivotal role in DNA research and the use of X-ray crystallography, her work remained largely unacknowledged during her lifetime. This quiz delves into her life, research, and the crucial images that shaped our understanding of DNA.
