The Secret of Life - Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and the Discovery of DNA's Double Helix

Biologist James Watson and physicist Francis Crick's 1953 revelation about the double helix structure of DNA is the foundation of virtually every advance in our modern understanding of genetics and molecular biology. But how did Watson and Crick do it-and why were they the ones who succeeded?

In truth, the discovery of DNA's structure is the story of a race among five scientists for advancement, fame and immortality: Watson, Crick, Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins and Linus Pauling. They were fascinating and brilliant, with strong personalities that often clashed. But it is Rosalind Franklin who becomes a focal point for Howard Markel. The Secret of Life is a story of genius and perseverance but also a saga of cronyism, misogyny, anti-Semitism and misconduct. Markel brilliantly recounts the intense intellectual journey-and the fraught personal relationships-that resulted in the discovery of DNA.

About the author

Howard Markel, MD, PhD, has practiced pediatrics and taught medical history at Johns Hopkins and University of Michigan. An award-winning author of The Secret of Life, National Academy of Medicine member, and Guggenheim fellow, he lives in New York.

Product details

• Authors: Howard Markel, Markel Howard
• Publisher: Norton
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 21.09.2021
• EAN: 9781324002239
• ISBN: 978-1-324-00223-9
• No. of pages: 576
• Dimensions: 174 mm x 249 mm x 35 mm
• Weight: 928 g
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Non-fiction book > Nature, technology > Biographies, autobiographies; SCIENCE / History, 20th Century, HISTORY / World, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Science & Technology, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Genetics & Genomics, General & world history, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, History of Science, General and world history, Biography: science, technology & medicine, Genetics (non-medical), Biography: science, technology and medicine