What was Rosalind Franklin's contribution to the understanding of DNA molecules?

Rosalind Franklin's significant contribution to the understanding of DNA molecules was her pioneering work in using X-ray diffraction techniques to visualize the structural details of DNA. Through her meticulous experiments, she generated high-quality images, most notably Photograph 51, which revealed the helical shape of the DNA molecule. This data provided critical evidence that ultimately helped confirm the double helix structure proposed by Watson and Crick. Her work highlighted the importance of the helical configuration and provided key insights into the molecular structure of DNA that were fundamental to understanding genetic material.

Other contributions, such as those involving the modeling of DNA or the role of RNA in protein synthesis, were made by different scientists. Franklin’s specialized expertise in X-ray crystallography was essential in advancing the knowledge of DNA’s physical properties and its implications for genetics.