70th anniversary of the discovery of DNA鈥檚 structure
Gaia Vince delves into the story behind the discovery of DNA鈥檚 double-helix structure and reveals intriguing new evidence about Rosalind Franklin鈥檚 contributions.
James Watson and Francis Crick, who detailed the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, are perhaps two of the most iconic scientists of the 20th Century. Yet the story of how they made their incredible discovery is perhaps equally famous, with a notorious narrative suggesting that they only identified the structure after taking the work of Rosalind Franklin and using it without her permission.
Now, 70 years after the discovery of DNA鈥檚 structure, it is perhaps time to rewrite the tale.
New evidence has now been unearthed, in the form of an overlooked news article and an unpublished letter, that shows that Franklin was truly an equal contributor to the discovery, and Watson and Crick were not as malicious as previously assumed.
Together with Matthew Cobb of the University of Manchester, Nathaniel Comfort from Johns Hopkins University, and Angela Creager of Princeton University, Gaia Vince discusses this tantalising tale and finds out more about how this discovery could bring a whole new twist to the story of DNA.
Presenter: Gaia Vince
Producer: Harrison Lewis
Assistant Producer: Jonathan Blackwell
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
Broadcasts
- Thu 27 Apr 2023 16:30麻豆社 Radio 4
- Thu 27 Apr 2023 21:00麻豆社 Radio 4
Explore further with The Open University
麻豆社 Inside Science is produced in partnership with The Open University.
Podcast
-
麻豆社 Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.