Maurice Wilkins was a prominent scientist in the 20th century, recognized for his contributions to understanding biological molecules. He is widely known for his work on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and was a recipient of the Nobel Prize. His research spanned several scientific disciplines, leaving a lasting impact on our comprehension of life’s fundamental processes.
Pioneering X-ray Diffraction of DNA
Wilkins initiated X-ray diffraction studies on DNA at King’s College London in 1948. This technique involves beaming X-rays through a crystalline material, like DNA fibers, and observing how the X-rays scatter to create a pattern on a photographic plate. Analyzing these patterns allows scientists to deduce the arrangement of atoms within the material.
By 1950, Wilkins and his graduate student, Raymond Gosling, produced some of the first high-quality X-ray diffraction images of DNA fibers. These images revealed a regular, crystalline structure, indicating an organized arrangement. The early images provided visual evidence that DNA had a helical, or spiral, shape, providing insight into its molecular configuration.
Contribution to the Double Helix Model
Wilkins’ X-ray diffraction work and the data he shared facilitated James Watson and Francis Crick’s development of the double helix model of DNA. In January 1953, Wilkins showed Watson an X-ray diffraction image of DNA, later known as “Photograph 51,” which Rosalind Franklin had produced in May 1952. This image, taken by Franklin and Gosling, displayed an X-shaped pattern consistent with a helical molecule, providing dimensions and insights into DNA’s structure.
Watson recognized the significance of “Photograph 51,” which led him and Crick to construct their double helix model in March 1953. The X-ray diffraction data, including Franklin’s image, helped confirm the helical nature of DNA and informed the molecule’s dimensions and arrangement. Wilkins, Watson, and Crick’s papers describing the DNA structure and supporting data were published together in the journal Nature in April 1953. For their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for living material, Wilkins shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Watson and Crick in 1962.
Other Scientific Pursuits
Beyond his work on DNA, Maurice Wilkins pursued diverse scientific inquiries. His early research included phosphorescence and thermoluminescence. He also contributed to isotope separation, a process used to enrich uranium for the atomic bomb during World War II.
Wilkins also made advancements in optical microscopy, developing new microscopes and cameras. After the discovery of the DNA structure, he extended his studies to the structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA), obtaining X-ray diffraction patterns of RNA, showing its helical structure. His work also encompassed the biological effects of radiation.