Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!
Genealogy has come a long way! Before the internet, researching your family’s history required traveling to different areas and repositories to copy documents. Nowadays, online genealogy sites can help you perform research faster without leaving the comforts of your home; you can create a family tree on most sites. DNA analysis has added another component to genealogical research, proving familial relationships beyond a shadow of a doubt. In 2022, genealogy companies sold over $1.4 billion of direct-to-consumer DNA kits. People want to find their relatives or discover their ethnicity. We can thank Rosalind Franklin for her research and insight into DNA research.
The Scientist
Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born on July 25, 1920, in London, England. She attended St. Paul’s Girls’ School and studied physical chemistry at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, obtaining her PhD from Cambridge with a focus on the physical chemistry of solid organic colloids. She conducted research in Paris and then joined King’s College London where she conducted groundbreaking research on DNA. Franklin was passionate about her work and immersed herself in X-ray diffraction studies, which led to her critical insights into DNA structure.
DNA Discovery
Rosalind Franklin’s research played a crucial role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. She worked on X-ray diffraction images of DNA, including the famous Photo 51, which provided critical evidence for the helical nature of DNA. Unfortunately, during her lifetime, Franklin’s contributions to DNA research were largely unrecognized. Nicknamed the “wronged heroine” or the “dark lady of DNA,” today’s scientists have lauded Franklin as the “Sylvia Plath of molecular biology;” however, her work has since gained recognition.
How Franklin’s Work Affects Genealogy
Franklin’s work indirectly contributed to the development of DNA sequencing techniques. These methods allow scientists to read the order of nucleotides (A, T, C, G) in a person’s DNA. Genealogical DNA testing relies on sequencing specific regions of an individual’s genome to create a DNA profile. This profile can be used to identify relatives, trace ancestry, and explore family connections. Franklin’s discoveries inspired subsequent research that led to the creation of commercial DNA testing kits. Companies like AncestryDNA and 23andMe use these kits to analyze specific genetic markers and provide insights into an individual’s ancestry. dna analysis
Franklin faced challenges as a woman in the male-dominated scientific field but persevered with determination. Unfortunately, Franklin’s life ended too soon. She received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 1956. Despite her illness, she continued working until her health deteriorated significantly. Rosalind Franklin died on April 16, 1958, at 37 years old.
Rosalind Franklin’s life was characterized by her unwavering commitment to scientific exploration, her passion for research, and her dedication to unraveling the mysteries of molecular structures.
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