Heroes and Cultural Identity Project

SCE Heroes - Rosalind Franklin

THE SILENT PARTNER IN THE DISCOVERY OF THE DNA RIDDLE

More than half a century ago, a number of scientists were in the race to discover the secret of life. Among them was Rosalind Franklin, a minority in the largely male, dominated field of science. She was dismissed by her male peers as frumpy, hostile and unimaginative. No other, put so much work into the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule, than her.

Her expertise in crystallography gave the first ever clear picture of the true shape and structure of DNA. This photograph, quite simply was the first steps to the advancement of modern day biology and to the understanding of the copying blueprint of hereditary life. Watson and Crick used this photo as the basis for their famous model of DNA, which Franklin has never been properly acknowledged for.

Scientists need to be able to share data, to develop and grow, but proper acknowledgment should always be given, which even after death, she has never received. Tragically Franklin died of ovarian cancer in 1958 four years before Watson and Crick received the Noble Prize. Would she have been included if still living? Debates still continue to this day about the amount of credit due to Franklin.

Let's set the record straight, not just for modern day biology, but for all female science students, who could look upon her as their heroine, as I do. One thing is certain she was indeed a scientist of the first rate.

Julie Leitch is studying a one year access course to university, in biological science at Stevenson College