"The Secret of Life - Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and the Discovery of DNA's Double Helix"
Just finished reading "The Secret of Life - Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and the Discovery of DNA's Double Helix" by Howard Markel, released by Norton.
Science is not a glamorous search for nature's definite truth. Nor are those who participate in the run towards scientific glory and immortality pure of heart and basically all around decent people.
The dirty little truth behind the discovery of DNA's Double Helix
was that James Watson and Francis Crick stole Rosalind Franklin's data and then covered their tracks by deliberate deceit and cover-up by Cambridge University's old boy's club and it's active anti-Semitism.
Markel, who is also an MD and PhD, has written a comprehensive history of the key players in the race to discover the structure of DNA, warts and all, and it's a fair, non-revisionist history. Watson and Crick admitted they stole Franklin's data and it gave them the intuitive leap they needed in order to figure out DNA's structure.
As I was reading Markel's fascinating history of scientific pursuit marred by religious and gender prejudice, I was reminded of "The Galactic Medal of Honor" the only book I read by Mack Reynolds since Watson and Crick committed the same crimes as Reynold's fictional protagonist in the pursuit of glory and how history would eventually judge him.
Franklin is now honored for her work and dedication which ultimately cost her her life due to exposure from radiation, and the ESA's Mars Rover bears her name.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Ro...
Science is not a glamorous search for nature's definite truth. Nor are those who participate in the run towards scientific glory and immortality pure of heart and basically all around decent people.
The dirty little truth behind the discovery of DNA's Double Helix
was that James Watson and Francis Crick stole Rosalind Franklin's data and then covered their tracks by deliberate deceit and cover-up by Cambridge University's old boy's club and it's active anti-Semitism.
Markel, who is also an MD and PhD, has written a comprehensive history of the key players in the race to discover the structure of DNA, warts and all, and it's a fair, non-revisionist history. Watson and Crick admitted they stole Franklin's data and it gave them the intuitive leap they needed in order to figure out DNA's structure.
As I was reading Markel's fascinating history of scientific pursuit marred by religious and gender prejudice, I was reminded of "The Galactic Medal of Honor" the only book I read by Mack Reynolds since Watson and Crick committed the same crimes as Reynold's fictional protagonist in the pursuit of glory and how history would eventually judge him.
Franklin is now honored for her work and dedication which ultimately cost her her life due to exposure from radiation, and the ESA's Mars Rover bears her name.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Ro...
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