Three women won the Nobel Prize in the sciences this year.
The times they are a changing.
"In The Double Helix, Watson bases his account of Franklin on recollections of their three brief meetings between 1951 and 1953, and on repeated complaints about her from Wilkins. The "Rosy" that Watson describes is a caricature based on the more difficult aspects of Franklin's personality. His portrayal--a far cry from the competent scientist described by her colleagues or the fascinating person described by her friends--is an effective device for promoting the idea that Watson and Crick had to rescue DNA data from--as Watson's book puts it--this "belligerent" woman who could not "keep her emotions under control" and who did not know how to interpret her own data. Watson falsely depicts Franklin as Wilkins's assistant, incapable and unworthy of Nobel Prize caliber work. His book was published against the vehement protest of key DNA participants, who were upset about its numerous inaccuracies.9"
http://www.aip.org/pt/vol-56/iss-3/p42.html
Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA
"Her photographs of DNA were called "among the most beautiful X-ray photographs of any substance ever taken," but physical chemist Rosalind Franklin never received due credit for the crucial role these played in the discovery of DNA's structure. In this sympathetic biography, Maddox argues that sexism, egotism and anti-Semitism conspired to marginalize a brilliant and uncompromising young scientist who, though disliked by some colleagues, was a warm and admired friend to many."
http://www.amazon.com/Rosalind-Franklin ... 0060184078
