Rosalind Franklin was a brilliant British scientist whose pioneering work with X-ray diffraction was crucial in uncovering the structure of DNA. In the early 1950s, Franklin conducted meticulous experiments at King’s College London, producing the first clear images of DNA molecules. Her famous Photo 51 provided key insights into the double-helix structure of DNA, which was fundamental for understanding how genetic information is stored and transmitted. Despite the groundbreaking nature of her research, Franklin's contributions were not widely recognized during her lifetime, partly due to the challenging gender dynamics in the scientific community of that era.

Franklin’s research extended beyond DNA; she also made significant contributions to the study of viruses and coal. Her work on the tobacco mosaic virus provided valuable insights into the structure of viruses and laid the groundwork for modern virology. Unfortunately, Franklin’s career was cut short when she died of ovarian cancer at the age of 37. It was only posthumously that her role in the discovery of DNA’s structure received the acknowledgment it deserved. Today, Franklin is celebrated as a trailblazer in molecular biology, and her legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists.

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