Reading Questions: “Photo Finish: Rosalind Franklin and the Great DNA Race”

The New Yorker, October 28, 2005

Directions: Read the article and answer the following questions on your OWN paper in complete sentences where you restate the question in your answer.

  1. When Rosalind was 16, what were the “hard” subjects that she chose to study?
  2. How did chemists and physicists figure that the study of life would interest them?
  3. a) Who was Rosalind’s lab partner for her research?

b)Describe their relationship.

  1. Why is Linus Pauling important to science (what did he discover)?
  2. What does DNA look like if you could get a sample of it?
  3. a) Where was the “best DNA sample in the world” from?

b) From what animal part was it extracted?

c) Why was this crucial to Rosalind’s research?

  1. a) What was Rosalind’s response when Wilkins suggested that her x-rays were helical?

b) What was the result of that encounter?

  1. Why did Watson and Crick decide to use models to help them figure out the structure of DNA?
  2. According to the article, what is the singular function of DNA?
  3. a) What was the original idea for the structure of DNA from Watson and Crick?

b)Who refuted the idea?

  1. What is the “Photograph 51” that is referred to throughout the article?
  2. What was the unethical thing that Wilkins did?
  3. Do YOU think Rosalind should have received credit for helping figure out the structure of DNA? You MUST explain your reasoning in 2-4 sentences.
  4. a) In your opinion, did Wilkins rightfully deserve the Nobel Prize?

b)If Rosalind has still been alive, do you think she should have been the recipient instead? EXPLAIN!

Reading Questions: “Photo Finish: Rosalind Franklin and the Great DNA Race”

The New Yorker, October 28, 2005

Directions: Read the article and answer the following questions on your OWN paper in complete sentences where you restate the question in your answer.

  1. When Rosalind was 16, what were the “hard” subjects that she chose to study?
  2. How did chemists and physicists figure that the study of life would interest them?
  3. a) Who was Rosalind’s lab partner for her research?

b) Describe their relationship.

  1. Why is Linus Pauling important to science (what did he discover)?
  2. What does DNA look like if you could get a sample of it?
  3. a) Where was the “best DNA sample in the world” from?

b) From what animal part was it extracted?

c) Why was this crucial to Rosalind’s research?

  1. a) What was Rosalind’s response when Wilkins suggested that her x-rays were helical?

b) What was the result of that encounter?

  1. Why did Watson and Crick decide to use models to help them figure out the structure of DNA?
  2. According to the article, what is the singular function of DNA?
  3. a) What was the original idea for the structure of DNA from Watson and Crick?

b) Who refuted the idea?

  1. What is the “Photograph 51” that is referred to throughout the article?
  2. What was the unethical thing that Wilkins did?
  3. Do YOU think Rosalind should have received credit for helping figure out the structure of DNA? You MUST explain your reasoning in 2-4 sentences.
  4. a) In your opinion, did Wilkins rightfully deserve the Nobel Prize?

b) If Rosalind has still been alive, do you think she should have been the recipient instead? EXPLAIN!