# Rosalind (DD-093)

> Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer. She worked on the structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite. Photo 51, an X-ray diffraction image of DNA taken in 1952 in her lab at King's College London by her PhD student Raymond Gosling, was shown to James Watson without her knowledge. Together with her data, it was key evidence for the double-helix model Watson and Francis Crick published in 1953. Watson, Crick and Maurice Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Franklin had died in 1958, and the prize isn't awarded posthumously. The footage shows portraits and lab scenes, with the presenter.

- Department: People (also Science)
- First published: 2023-11-26
- Last updated: 2023-11-26
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rosalind/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **1952**: Photo 51 is taken in Franklin's lab
- **1953**: Watson and Crick publish the double-helix model
- **1962**: Watson, Crick and Wilkins share the Nobel Prize

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=rosalind

## Quick facts

- **DD-093-F01**: Photo 51 was taken in Franklin's lab in 1952. _(Write-up · Exhibit C (Photo 51))_
- **DD-093-F02**: Franklin died in 1958, before the 1962 Nobel. _(Write-up · Exhibit E (1962 Nobel))_

## Write-up

One X-ray photograph helped reveal the shape of DNA. Watson and Crick used Rosalind Franklin's data without her knowledge.

1. **Crystallographer**: Franklin was a chemist and X-ray crystallographer.
2. **Broad work**: She studied DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite.
3. **Photo 51**: Photo 51, taken in her lab in 1952, showed DNA's helical pattern.
4. **Shown without consent**: Watson saw the image without her knowledge.
5. **1962 Nobel**: Watson, Crick and Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel; Franklin had died in 1958.

## Related case files

- [Sickled Cells (DD-613)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sickled-cells/): I linked a case where a DNA change shapes a cell
- ["Writing" Life (DD-313)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/writing-life/): I linked the scientist behind DNA's structure

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed. I added that Photo 51 was taken by her student Raymond Gosling, and that she had died before the 1962 prize.

## Video: Rosalind: One X-Ray Photograph Helped Reveal the Shape of DNA

- Duration: 36.8 s · Published: 2023-11-26
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C0GbkGlMg5g.mp4

### Transcript

Rosalind Franklin was a pioneering chemist and X-ray crystallographer who made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. However she is perhaps best known for her work on DNA. DID YOU KNOW? Franklin's famous photograph known as Photo 51 played a crucial role in the discovery of the DNA double helix. James Watson and Francis Crick who later received the Nobel Prize for their work on DNA used Franklin's data as a key piece of evidence. Despite not being credited at the time Franklin's contributions to the understanding of DNA structure have gained recognition and she is celebrated for her groundbreaking work in molecular biology. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What was Franklin's specialty?**  
A: Imaging molecules with X-rays. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Crystallographer) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin)_

**Q: Which of these did she also study?**  
A: Plus graphite and viruses. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Broad work) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin)_

**Q: When was Photo 51 taken?**  
A: At King's College London. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Photo 51) · Wikipedia: Photo 51)_

**Q: How did Watson see Photo 51?**  
A: It was shown to him. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Shown without consent) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin; Wikipedia: Photo 51)_

**Q: Why didn't Franklin share the 1962 Nobel?**  
A: It isn't given posthumously. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (1962 Nobel) · Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin; NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Rosalind Franklin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalind_Franklin)
- [Wikipedia: Photo 51](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_51)
- [NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1962/summary/)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Rosalind." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-093, last updated Nov 26, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rosalind/