The secret of life: Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and the discovery of DNA's double helix

The discovery of the elegant double helix structure of the DNA molecule in 1953 "represents a light-switch moment in the history of science--for that matter, in human history," writes medical historian Markel (The Kelloggs, 2017). Previously, much of the backstory of this breakthrough was gleaned from James Watson's popular but biased 1968 memoir, The Double Helix. Markel corrects the record in this epic "whodunit" about how the race to unravel the mystery of life's master molecule was warped by misogyny, culture, personality, and power relationships. The stars of the story have always been the brilliant physicist Francis Crick and ambitious biologist Watson. But Markel greatly credits the work of the brilliant if ill-fated chemist Rosalind Franklin. Her X-ray crystallography photographs of DNA were essential to the discovery of its unique structure, but Watson appropriated Franklin's work without her permission. The chase to elucidate DNA's design involved differing methodologies (X-ray diffraction images, model building) and competing scientists, including Linus Pauling and Maurice Wilkins. Self-confidence, intuition, and serendipity occupy prominent positions here. Markel masterfully demonstrates how temperaments, pettiness, and the pursuit of prestige can poison science. An illuminating and candid resetting of a pivotal moment in science, with characters who often cross the line between antagonist and protagonist.

One of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century was also the scientific heist of the century, according to this action-packed history. Historian Markel (The Kelloggs) recreates the 1953 elucidation of DNA's structure by Cambridge University's James Watson and Francis Crick and their rivalry with the King's College team of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. While for decades history books have attributed the discovery to Watson and Crick, it really wasn't so simple, Markel writes--their discovery was based on Franklin's research that was "borrowed" by Watson. Markel skillfully explains the knotty science behind the breakthrough and highlights the clash of outsize personalities: the mercurial, loudmouthed physicist Crick; the nerdy, manipulative molecular biologist Watson; the prickly X-ray crystallographer Franklin; the "high-strung, bumbling" biophysicist Wilkins; and the world-renowned chemist Linus Pauling (who threatened to beat them all). Markel decries Watson and Crick's secret appropriation of Franklin's X-ray data as "one of the most egregious rip-offs in scientific history" and the culmination of her "oppression" by "white, entitled, English academic lords." His tone sometimes feels overblown, but his tart, sharp-eyed prose--"Chargaff was unimpressed by Crick's nonstop blathering, not to mention Watson's Greek chorus of eye-bulging and snorting"--saves the day. This wonderfully evocative tale sings. Photos. (Sept.)

This collective biography attempts to strip away the hyperbole that has grown up around the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953. Markel (history of medicine, Univ. of Michigan; Anatomy of Addiction) begins the book with a brief sketch of the history of the field now known as genetics and recounts the early lives and careers of the scientists Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Maurice Wilkins, and Linus Pauling. This sets the stage for Markel's detailed examination of the research on X-ray diffraction at Kings College, London, and the theoretical work done at the Cavendish Lab at Cambridge in the early 1950s. No explosive new details are revealed, but Markel unifies the timeline and gives voice to the scientific and personal thoughts of the principal scientists, found in their correspondence, lab notebooks, memoirs, and interviews. Markel's book portrays each scientist as a complex individual and is firm in the conclusion that Franklin was denied due credit for the DNA discovery. (One of her colleagues and her supervisor had showed her data to Watson, precipitating his breakthrough on the DNA model.) VERDICT This enjoyable account will save readers' time by synthesizing and supplementing information from the dozen or so memoirs and biographies of Crick, Franklin, Watson, Wilkins, and Pauling.--Wade Lee-Smith, Univ. of Toledo Lib., OH

A medical historian offers a new history of one of the 20th century's most significant scientific quests. The structure of DNA, announced in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick, marked the beginning of the spectacular genetics revolution that has continually accelerated since then. There is no shortage of excellent histories, but Markel, a Guggenheim fellow and professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, has written one of the best. After a quick review of the relevant advancements in the 19th century, the author delivers long, satisfying biographies of the leading figures as well as a large supporting cast, including Linus Pauling and John Randall, who directed the biophysics unit at King's College in London. Markel provides a meticulous account of DNA research by others, as well, and he emphasizes that Watson and Crick made their breakthrough by examining X-ray photographs of DNA crystals. Producing such crystals required extraordinary dexterity, and photographing them demanded acute technical expertise, which often included building X-ray machines from scratch. The X-ray experts were Maurice Wilkins (who shared the Nobel Prize with Watson and Crick) and Rosalind Franklin, recruited in 1950 when Wilkins seemed to be stalled. Nearly every historian in this area explores the intense dislike between Wilkins and Franklin; all, Markel included, deliver reasonable, if differing explanations. Watson famously disparaged her in his 1968 bestseller, The Double Helix, ("he transmogrified her into 'Rosy,' the one-dimensional archenemy"), but Markel turns up admirers. In the end, Watson and Crick examined X-rays (Franklin's were better than Wilkins'), built their model, and went down in history. Franklin died in 1958, and the others barely mentioned her in their 30-minute Nobel Prize lectures in 1962. Nowadays, everyone agrees that she was treated badly and that her work--examined without her permission ("one of the most egregious ripoffs in the history of science")--was essential to the discovery, but during her life, she never expressed resentment. A brilliant addition to the literature on the history of biological discovery. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* The discovery of the elegant double helix structure of the DNA molecule in 1953 represents a light-switch moment in the history of science—for that matter, in human history, writes medical historian Markel (The Kelloggs, 2017). Previously, much of the backstory of this breakthrough was gleaned from James Watson's popular but biased 1968 memoir, The Double Helix. Markel corrects the record in this epic whodunit about how the race to unravel the mystery of life's master molecule was warped by misogyny, culture, personality, and power relationships. The stars of the story have always been the brilliant physicist Francis Crick and ambitious biologist Watson. But Markel greatly credits the work of the brilliant if ill-fated chemist Rosalind Franklin. Her X-ray crystallography photographs of DNA were essential to the discovery of its unique structure, but Watson appropriated Franklin's work without her permission. The chase to elucidate DNA's design involved differing methodologies (X-ray diffraction images, model building) and competing scientists, including Linus Pauling and Maurice Wilkins. Self-confidence, intuition, and serendipity occupy prominent positions here. Markel masterfully demonstrates how temperaments, pettiness, and the pursuit of prestige can poison science. An illuminating and candid resetting of a pivotal moment in science, with characters who often cross the line between antagonist and protagonist. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

This collective biography attempts to strip away the hyperbole that has grown up around the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953. Markel (history of medicine, Univ. of Michigan; Anatomy of Addiction) begins the book with a brief sketch of the history of the field now known as genetics and recounts the early lives and careers of the scientists Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Maurice Wilkins, and Linus Pauling. This sets the stage for Markel's detailed examination of the research on X-ray diffraction at Kings College, London, and the theoretical work done at the Cavendish Lab at Cambridge in the early 1950s. No explosive new details are revealed, but Markel unifies the timeline and gives voice to the scientific and personal thoughts of the principal scientists, found in their correspondence, lab notebooks, memoirs, and interviews. Markel's book portrays each scientist as a complex individual and is firm in the conclusion that Franklin was denied due credit for the DNA discovery. (One of her colleagues and her supervisor had showed her data to Watson, precipitating his breakthrough on the DNA model.) VERDICT This enjoyable account will save readers' time by synthesizing and supplementing information from the dozen or so memoirs and biographies of Crick, Franklin, Watson, Wilkins, and Pauling.—Wade Lee-Smith, Univ. of Toledo Lib., OH

One of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century was also the scientific heist of the century, according to this action-packed history. Historian Markel (The Kelloggs) recreates the 1953 elucidation of DNA's structure by Cambridge University's James Watson and Francis Crick and their rivalry with the King's College team of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. While for decades history books have attributed the discovery to Watson and Crick, it really wasn't so simple, Markel writes—their discovery was based on Franklin's research that was "borrowed" by Watson. Markel skillfully explains the knotty science behind the breakthrough and highlights the clash of outsize personalities: the mercurial, loudmouthed physicist Crick; the nerdy, manipulative molecular biologist Watson; the prickly X-ray crystallographer Franklin; the "high-strung, bumbling" biophysicist Wilkins; and the world-renowned chemist Linus Pauling (who threatened to beat them all). Markel decries Watson and Crick's secret appropriation of Franklin's X-ray data as "one of the most egregious rip-offs in scientific history" and the culmination of her "oppression" by "white, entitled, English academic lords." His tone sometimes feels overblown, but his tart, sharp-eyed prose—"Chargaff was unimpressed by Crick's nonstop blathering, not to mention Watson's Greek chorus of eye-bulging and snorting"—saves the day. This wonderfully evocative tale sings. Photos. (Sept.)