The most important photo ever taken,
the X-ray diffraction photograph which led to the discovery of the
structure of DNA, came about through a series of lucky coincidences
at Kings' College, London.
In a rare public appearance, Professor
Raymond Gosling and Prof. Herbert Wilson, who worked with Rosalind
Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, will talk through their experiences
of the early DNA research. All these names appeared on the Nature
papers describing the structure of DNA, published alongside that of
Crick and Watson in April 1953.
As the world notes the 50th
anniversary of that publication a lot is being made of the history
of DNA research - but at King's the focus remains on the future.
Without the discovery of the structure of DNA, stem-cell research
would not be possible and, while controversy continues to surround
this area of research, Blair has vowed that Britain will become the
leader in the field. With one of only two existing UK stem-cell
research licences, King's College are as important to our future
knowledge of human existence as they have been to mapping its
past.
The most important photo ever taken,
the X-ray diffraction photograph which led to the discovery of the
structure of DNA, came about through a series of lucky coincidences
at Kings' College, London.