Behind the Double Helix: The Complicated Life of Rosalind Franklin

BACKGROUND: Rosalind Franklin was a British scientist in the 1950s, that in her short career covered a lot of important scientific topics, ranging from coal structure porosity, to biological molecules cristallography, and finally to viruses structure definition.AIM: This article aimed to underline the important role that she had for the elucidation of the DNA structure, and to reiterate the difficulties, she had to face – prominently as a woman – to be fully accepted in the world of scientific research.METHODS: An historical research was conducted and summarized, regarding the life of Rosalind Franklin.RESULTS: This myth overshadowed her intellectual strength and independence both as a scientist and as an individual.CONCLUSION: As one of the twentieth century’s pre-eminent scientists, Franklin’s work has benefited all of humanity. The 100th anniversary of her birth in 2020 was prompting much reflection on her career and research contributions, not least Franklin’s catalytic role in unraveling the structure of DNA Franklin’s premature death, combined with misogynist treatment by the male scientific establishment, cast her as a feminist icon.