Today in Science History: Watson/ Crick vs. Franklin
Posted by: Mariam Rizkallah in Microbiology stories, Molecular SciencesOn February 28, 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick announced to their friends that they have discovered the chemical structure of the DNA. After publishing their paper in Nature on April 2, the official announcement took place on April 25.
That is what I have read in Al-Ahram newspaper today. What a discovery! Imagine if they had not done it, we would have had no clue about genes & protein synthesis, no recombinant DNA tech- & no sequencing. We would have had no molecular biology departments in universities! Abby from NCIS & Greg from CSI would have had no job!
So, what was the real story? To what extent are the “rumors” saying that Rosalind Franklin is the real discoverer of the DNA double helix right? Is she really the “Dark Lady of DNA”?
I hope we can get the story through your comments after we read this:
1- Crick papers from the National Library of Medicine.
2- Watson’s interview with a group of top North Carolina high school students in 2003.
3- BBC celebrating the 50th anniversary of DNA structure discovery in 2003. (really interesting)
4- Rosalind Franklin: Dark Lady of DNA by NPR (National Public Radio)
Image credits:
Watson – Crick DNA model: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/
Rosalind Franklin: http://www.npr.org/