description Crick and Watson's X-ray Diffraction Photograph 51 Overview
This artifact is an X-ray diffraction photograph, designated 51, produced in 1952 by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling. The image reveals the repeating structure of DNA molecules. It proved crucial to James Watson and Francis Crick’s development of the now-standard double helix model for DNA's structure. Scientists and researchers studying molecular biology and genetics utilize this photograph as a historical document illustrating early DNA research.
help Crick and Watson's X-ray Diffraction Photograph 51 FAQ
Who actually made Photograph 51?
Raymond Gosling took Photograph 51 in 1952 while working as Rosalind Franklin's graduate researcher at King's College London. It was produced from DNA fibers under Franklin's experimental direction, so museums and histories commonly credit both Franklin and Gosling.
What does the X pattern in Photograph 51 reveal about DNA?
The strong cross-shaped diffraction pattern is characteristic of a helical molecular structure. Measurements from the image also supplied constraints on DNA's repeating dimensions that helped researchers evaluate structural models.
How did Watson and Crick obtain access to Photograph 51?
Maurice Wilkins showed the photograph to James Watson without Franklin's direct permission. Watson and Francis Crick also benefited from a King's College research report containing Franklin's measurements when constructing their 1953 double-helix model.
Was Photograph 51 an image of DNA's A form or B form?
It shows the more hydrated B form of DNA, which produced a particularly clear helical diffraction pattern. Franklin separately studied the drier A form, whose more complicated image initially made its structure harder to interpret.
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