Rosalind Franklin

Full Name: Rosalind Elsie Franklin
Profession: Chemist and Molecular Biologist

Nationality:

Biography: Rosalind Franklin made important discoveries about the structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. She has more recently been credited for the key role that she played in discovering the structure of DNA.

Franklin was born in 1920 in London where she excelled as a student. She went on to study at Newnham College, Cambridge, and received her PhD in 1945.

In 1947, Franklin worked in Paris and specialised in X-ray crystallography. In 1951, she started working on DNA at King's College London. Her X-ray images, particularly Photo 51, helped show the shape of DNA.

Francis Crick and James Watson used Franklin's work to make their model of DNA's structure. They have been criticised, however, for failing to credit her essential role in this discovery.

In 1953, Franklin moved to Birkbeck College where she conducted important research on the shapes of viruses, like the tobacco mosaic virus. Unfortunately would die of cancer when she was only 37 years old.

Born: July 25, 1920
Birthplace: Notting Hill, London, England

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Leo

Died: April 16, 1958 (aged 37)
Cause of Death: Ovarian cancer