Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA

I picked up this book at school at a sale of used books. It was written in 2002, so it's not a new book. Just new to me. It was really terrific. I knew that there was a woman who was involved with discovering the DNA molecule, but didn't know her name.  (I know that's shocking, given that I was a biology major at a women's college; you'd have thought they'd have had a whole class on her, right?) Her work was used by Watson and Crick without her knowledge or permission when they then "discovered" the helical structure of the DNA molecule. This is a wonderful biography of her work, and her life which was cut short by ovarian cancer. As I found myself reading about her work and her relationship with her colleagues, it brought me back to my days working in research labs. She was a complex person who could be witty and charming to some, and cold to others. Many women in science are judged harshly for the same character traits that are highly prized in male researchers.

After her work on the DNA molecule, she went of to study the structure of TMV, tobacco mosaic virus, which advanced the knowledge about viruses and their mode of infection. Alan Klug, who worked under her though found her to be a wonderful mentor and teacher was full of praise for her in 1962 when he won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. He later found a missing manuscript which showed that she was much closer than anyone had realized to solving the structure of the double helix.  But here's the thing. In an article he wrote for Nature he said "For the feminists, however, she has become a doomed heroine, and they have seized upon her as an icon, which is not, of course, her fault. Rosalind was not a feminists in the ordinary sense, but she was determined to be treated equally just like anybody else." (Maddox, p.326)

But-- isn't that the point? There used to be a bumper sticker that said "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."   Ha-- just looked on Amazon, and now there's a mug with the same quote... Just in case you really need one, I've posted the link. ;-)
And so, yes, it's logical that she would be a feminist icon. One of the reviews on Amazon of the book shows why it's still important.  Here's a partial post of what (I'm assuming) this guy wrote: (I added the underline and italics)

But the fact remains that, while she had the information, she did not make the discovery. Watson & Crick did. Could she have arrived at their conclusion give more time and more research? Perhaps. But the question is irrelevant. She didn't. They did. Watson & Crick did not "steal" her discovery. They made it on their own - no doubt with the invaluable help of her data. 

But that is the way scientific discoveries are made. The great breakthroughs are always based on previous inconclusive research and data compiled by other scientists. Such information is the common property of the scientific community, not the private property of individual researchers. Progress is made through the sharing of data, studies and findings. Science progresses not in secret, but through an open system of shared information.  

The fact is that such discoveries are often the result of a combination of painstaking research and illuminating insight. Rosalind Franklin was a painstaking researcher. But it was Watson & Crick who had the brilliant insight.

This review made me really mad. It's like saying I'm a better poker player if I get to see your cards, but you don't get to see mine. He says research finding are not the private property of individual researchers, and this it's common property of the scientific community. But left out an important caveat-- AFTER it's published.  I don't begrudge Watson and Crick their "Brilliant Insight" but where was the sharing and collaboration?  Did they share their data and findings?  Not at all- it was a one way street.

Okay- this has turned into a feminist rant. that was not my intention at all.  I haven't been overtaken by such fury since my days at MHC.  But, it does a body good; gets the blood flowing!  I hope more people read this book; she was a brilliant researcher and she deserves her name to be more widely known. Bravo to Brenda Maddox; a great piece of work!!