Download Throughout science careers many men and women discovered

Throughout science careers many men and women discovered, created, and
shared the mysteries of nature. Many people contributed but not all were
recognized. Some were forgotten or ignored because of race, ethnicity, or gender.
The following two women, Rosalind Franklin and Anna Wessels Williams, made
enormous contributions in the field of science, which greatly impacted the future.
Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) attended St. Paul’s Girls School where she
first came to love physics and chemistry. She earned her degree in natural science,
with a specialty in chemistry, at Newnham College, Cambridge. She studied
molecular biology. Years later, 1951 she discovered the structure of DNA, double
helix shape, She further explains in her paper, The Structure of Sodium Thymonucleate
Fibres. I. The Influence of Water Content, how DNA is composed of molecules and long
chains of nucleotides. James Watson and Francis Crick later confirmed her
discoveries. Rosalind Franklin was never nominated for the Nobel Prize. Not only
did Rosalind Franklin work on uncovering the mysteries of DNA structure but her
studies also led to the work on the tobacco mosaic virus and the polio virus. Franklin
was very successful at decoding life’s secrets but throughout her career she faced many
struggles.
Anna Wessels Williams (1863-1954) was born in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Williams attended college at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). In 1887 Williams had a
family crisis, one of her sisters nearly died while giving birth. Williams was angered at
the inexperienced doctors, who were unable to help her sister. Williams decided to
enter the medical profession in hopes of having control over life threatening situations.
Williams attended the Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary. At the
bacteriology laboratory at the New York City Department of Health she began her work
in search of an antitoxin for diphtheria, leading cause of death among children. Through
out her life she worked to uncover the causes of life threatening diseases. Anna Wessels
Williams was the first women to be elected chair of the laboratory section of the
American Public Health Association.
These two extraordinary women contributed and furthered the research of life.
Franklin and Williams did however face many difficulties.
During her time at King’s College, Franklin was discriminated against because of her
gender. Women were excluded from the staff dining hall or away from the university.
One unfair misdeed that caused much controversy in later years was awarding the
Nobel Prize to Watson and Crick, many felt that award should have been under
Franklin’s name. Anna Wessels Williams also faced struggles. In 1934, Williams was
forced into retirement. Living in New York, the mayor ruled a mandatory retirement for
city employees over seventy years old.
Reference:
Franklin, ROSALIND E., and R. G. Gosling. "The structure of sodium
thymonucleate fibres. I. The influence of water content." Acta
Crystallographica 6.8-9 (1953): 673-677.
Elkin, Lynne. "Rosalind Elsie Franklin." Jewish Women: A Comprehensive
Historical Encyclopedia. 1 March 2009. Jewish Women's Archive. (Viewed on
January 9, 2013) <http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/franklin-rosalind>.
"Anna Wessels Williams." World of Health. Gale, 2006.
Biography In Context. Web. 3 Mar. 2013
"Anna W. Williams." Scientists: Their Lives and Works. Gale,
2006. Science In Context. Web. 3 Mar. 2013
Park, William Hallock, Anna Wessels Williams, and Charles
Krumwiede.Pathogenic microörganisms: a practical manual for
students, physicians, and health officers. Lea & Febiger, 1920.
Image Source:
Rosalind Franklin "The Discovery of the Molecular Structure of DNA - The Double Helix".
Nobelprize.org. 10 Jan 2013
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna_double_helix/readmore.html
"Dr. Anna Wessels Williams." Women: Changing the face of medicine. National
Institute of Health Biography. (Viewed on March 5, 2013)
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_331.h
tml >