The Secret of Life

The discovery by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 of the double helix structure of DNA forms the basis of practically all achievements in modern genetics and molecular biology. But how did the scientists arrive at this result, and why is the success attributed specifically to Watson and Crick? In the narrative by Markel, one of the world’s leading experts in the history of medicine, behind this great scientific breakthrough are the names of five (not just two!) scientists, each deserving of glory and immortality: James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, and Linus Pauling. Brilliant minds and strong personalities, they were both collaborators and competitors. At the same time, the author makes Rosalind Franklin the main character, thus raising, in addition to other important topics in the scientific world, issues of male chauvinism, anti-Semitism, and injustice. The author engages the reader in an intellectual journey, recreating the tense pursuit of truth and the complex picture of personal relationships, delicately touching upon the mysteries of life that go far beyond biology.