Rosalind Franklin

Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated. Science, for me, gives a partial explanation of life. In so far as it goes, it is exact, but it is only a part of the whole. Religion and art and all that goes to make up human life supply the other parts. It does not matter to me whether I believe in God or not. I can still be a scientist. But I cannot be a scientist if I am not a human being.

I am not going to be pushed into a position where I am expected to produce results before I have done the necessary preliminary work.

I don't think I'm a feminist. I just think I'm a scientist.

The structure of DNA is a helix.

There is no evidence for a triple helix.

Our X-ray diffraction photographs show clearly that the structure is helical.

I am not interested in building models. I am interested in proving the structure.

The molecule is a helix with two chains.

The phosphate groups are on the outside of the molecule.

The structure is not a single chain, but two chains running in opposite directions.

The problem is not to find a model, but to find the correct model.

I have no doubt that the structure is helical, but the details are still to be worked out.

The data speaks for itself.

My work is my life.

I see no reason why women should not be as good scientists as men.

The most important thing is to be thorough and accurate.

The structure of DNA is too beautiful to be wrong.

I am quite convinced that there is a great deal to be done in this field.

The crucial evidence for the helical structure of DNA comes from X-ray diffraction patterns.

The interpretation of these patterns leads unambiguously to a helical structure.