Scientific Collaboration

James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins

The Scientists Who Revealed the Structure of DNA

On April 25, 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published a groundbreaking article in Nature that revealed the double helix structure of DNA. Their work was based on the findings of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, who were equally as brilliant yet who did not enjoy the same level of recognition for their scientific contributions. Through accessible yet captivating text accompanied by striking images, students will understand the significance of this discovery and get to know the story of the scientists who played a critical role in describing DNA, including how they worked and what motivated them in their pioneering research.