What was Rosalind Franklin's contribution to Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA structure?

• A. She developed the first model of DNA using ball-and-stick models.
• B. She provided the X-ray diffraction images that helped identify the double helix structure.
• C. She isolated DNA from cells for the first time.
• D. She discovered the base pairing rules of DNA.

Answer: (B)

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1. Rosalind Franklin was a skilled X-ray crystallographer who worked on understanding the structure of DNA.
2. She captured high-resolution X-ray diffraction images of DNA, which were crucial in revealing the physical structure of the molecule.
3. One of her most famous images, known as Photo 51, provided key insights into the helical structure of DNA.
4. Franklin's data suggested that DNA had a double helix structure, which was a pivotal piece of evidence for Watson and Crick's model.
5. Her work laid the foundation for Watson and Crick to propose the correct model of DNA, emphasizing the importance of the double helix.