DNA

1
DNA

• The real story

2
Rosalind Franklin

• The dark lady of DNA

3
Rosalind Franklin

• Born in London, England July 25,1920
• Graduated from Newnham College 1941
• Earned a doctorate in physical chemistry from
  Cambridge University 1945
• Died in London, England April 16, 1958 of ovarian
  cancer

4

• From 1947-1950 Franklin learned the technique of
  X-ray diffraction
• 1950 began work at Kings College
• 1951-1953 was Rosalinds prime time for working
  on the DNA project
• Took the famous photograph entitled photo 51

5

• Photo 51
• This photograph which looks like an X showed that
  DNA was actually in the shape of a helix

6

• Franklin was the first to discover that DNA was a
  helical molecule
• First to extract very fine DNA fibers and work
  with them
• Would only publish her work when she felt she had
  all the evidence and data to support her theory

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Controversy

• The main controversy was not the discovery of
  what DNA looked like or what it was made of
• The real controversy was WHO actually discovered
  what DNA was shaped like and what it looked like

8

• At the time Rosalind was in school it was
  inappropriate for a woman to have any education
  at the college level or work with men in the
  college
• She was partnered with Maurice Wilkins who was in
  close relation with Francis Crick and James
  Watson

9

• Maurice Wilkins would secretly go through
  Rosalinds work and papers which lead to the
  discovery that DNA was helical and what it was
  made of.
• Wilkins would later show how much he hated
  working with a woman
• This is a letter that Wilkins wrote Crick

• I think you will be interested to know that
  our dark lady leaves us next weekI am now
  reasonably clear of other commitments and have
  started up a general offensive on Natures secret
  strongholdsAt least the decks are clear and we
  can put all hands to the pumps!
• It wont be long now.
• Regards to all
• Yours ever
• M

10

• After Wilkins showed Franklins work to Watson
  a few papers were almost immediately published.
• These papers included Franklins x-ray
  diffraction pictures, her work, and her
  discoveries yet there was only one sentence in
  the papers that mentioned her.

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• When the papers were published not much was said
  except that it was a break through for the
  science world
• Franklin never had a clue that her work was being
  used because it was never missing or stolen
• However her story was soon known but not soon
  enough.

12

• In 1962 James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice
  Wilkins received the Noble Prize for the
  double-helix model of DNA.

• Later James Watson wrote a book The Double
  Helix which told the story of Franklin along
  with several other books. Example The Dark Lady
  of DNA by Brenda Maddox

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In the classroom

• This will be used as in introduction into a
  DNA lab. It gives the students a different side
  of DNA and how it came about

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Biology

• Competency Goal 2 The learner will develop an
  understanding of the continuity of life and the
  changes of organisms over time. 
• Objectives
• 2.01 Analyze the molecular basis of heredity/DNA
  including
• 2.04 Assess the application of DNA technology to
  forensics, medicine, and agriculture.
• 2.05 Analyze and explain the role of genetics and
  environment in health and disease.

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Resources

• Websites
• http//www.ncpublicschools.org
• http//www.sdsc.edu/ScienceWomen/franklin.html
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bofra
  n.html
• Articles
• The Lancet The elusive life of Rosalind Franklin
  
• Volume 360, Issue 9350
• EBSCOhost
• Title Rosalind Franklin Controversy and
  Discovery.,  By Farrell, Courtney, Rosalind E
  Franklin, 2006Database MasterFILE Premier
• Title Rosalind Franklin X-Ray Diffraction and
  DNA.,  By Farrell, Courtney, Rosalind E
  Franklin, 2006Database MasterFILE Premier
• DVD
• The Secret Life of DNA
• Book
• Maddox, Brenda. Rosalind Franklin - The Dark Lady
  of DNA. New York HarperCollins Publishers, 2002.