X-ray vision
Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins investigated the structure of life by shining X-rays onto crystals of DNA and recording them onto photographic film.
When an X-ray hits an atom of the DNA molecule its path is slightly diverted. By shining the X-rays at the crystal from many different angles, Franklin and Wilkins were able to build up a pattern on the photographic film - giving a clue about how the atoms were arranged.
But it was Crick and Watson who first realised the shape of DNA.
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Maurice Wilkins
Image: King's College London |
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