Question 1

When was Rosalind Franklin born and when did they die?

Accepted Answer

Rosalind Franklin was born in 1920 and died in 1958, living to about 38 years old.

Question 2

What was Rosalind Franklin known for?

Accepted Answer

Rosalind Franklin was known for: Key to discovering DNA's structure. Rosalind Elsie Franklin was an English chemist and X-ray crystallographer. Her work was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. Although her works on coal and viruses were appreciated in her lifetime, Franklin's contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA were largely unrecognised during her life, for which Franklin has been variously referred to as the "wronged heroine", the "dark lady of DNA", the "forgotten heroine", a "feminist icon", and the "Sylvia Plath of molecular biology". James Watson believed that, had she not died, Franklin would have been awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Question 3

Who was alive at the same time as Rosalind Franklin?

Accepted Answer

Rosalind Franklin's closest contemporary was Winston Churchill, with whom they shared 38 years of overlapping lifetimes. Explore more contemporaries on Timeliner.

Rosalind Franklin

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