Question
Here is the question : ROSALIND FRANKLIN HELPED DISCOVER THE STRUCTURE OF WHAT MOLECULE?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- DNA
- Nitrogen
- Ozone
- Glucose
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
The X-ray diffraction image of DNA that was taken in 1952 and given the name “Photo 51” was captured by the molecular biologist Rosalind Franklin and her research student Ray Gosling. It was shown to James Watson without her knowledge, and he used it as one of the pieces of evidence to assist verify the double-helix structure of DNA, which earned him the Nobel Prize. Franklin did not receive recognition during her lifetime; but, in more recent years, the discovery that she made has been lauded, and a number of research centers have now been named in her honor.
Rosalind Franklin: Unveiling the Mysterious Structure of DNA
In the annals of scientific discovery, few names shine as brightly as that of Rosalind Franklin. This brilliant British scientist played a crucial role in unraveling one of the greatest mysteries of life itself—the structure of DNA. Franklin’s pioneering work in the mid-20th century laid the foundation for our understanding of genetics and revolutionized fields such as molecular biology and medicine.
Born in 1920 in London, Rosalind Franklin exhibited an early aptitude for science and pursued her education at the University of Cambridge, where she studied physical chemistry. Her keen intellect and meticulous research methods quickly set her apart, earning her a Ph.D. in 1945. Franklin’s early research focused on the study of coal, but it was her later work with X-ray crystallography that would forever change the course of scientific history.
In 1951, Franklin joined the Medical Research Council (MRC) in London, where she began her groundbreaking work on DNA. Utilizing X-ray crystallography—a technique that involves directing X-rays at crystals to analyze their molecular structure—Franklin captured the first images of DNA fibers. Her images, known as “Photo 51,” were a revelation, providing key insights into the structure of the molecule that would shape our understanding of genetics.
Franklin’s X-ray images revealed the helical nature of DNA—a crucial breakthrough that set the stage for the realization that DNA carries genetic information. The images showed a distinct cross-shaped pattern, indicating a helix with a uniform diameter and a repeating structure. This evidence suggested that DNA was a double helix—a twisted ladder-like structure consisting of two strands held together by hydrogen bonds between specific base pairs.
Franklin faced significant challenges and professional obstacles. Her male colleagues often dismissed her contributions, and she contended with a lack of recognition and credit for her discoveries. However, Franklin’s unwavering commitment to scientific rigor and her remarkable intellect allowed her to make significant strides in understanding the structure of DNA.
In 1952, Franklin’s research took a pivotal turn when she collaborated with Maurice Wilkins, a colleague at the MRC. Wilkins shared Franklin’s X-ray images of DNA with James Watson and Francis Crick, who were also investigating the structure of DNA. The insights gained from Franklin’s images, combined with the work of Watson and Crick, led to the groundbreaking discovery of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for their work, but Franklin’s contributions were not acknowledged at the time.
Tragically, Franklin’s life was cut short at the age of 37 due to ovarian cancer. Her untimely death in 1958 denied her the opportunity to witness the full i