Watch the video below (It is long but well worth it)
When you are finished, answer the following questions in a reply to this blog post
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Yes, she was not around to defend herself because she passed away early in her life. Watson wrote a book that distorted the scientific study and made Rosalind Franklin depicted as a bad person even though she was the one to get the original X-rays of DNA. Wilkins and Watson use her “photo 51” to do their personal research. They largely based their model on Franklin’s ideas.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
I believe if a scientist found the information that is their data until they die. Past scientist data is continued to use today but unless you give your data to others I believe it is the original scientist’ data and not others.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
It is interesting that he says it may have been Rosalind or it may have been me because you would think he would remember if he gave the picture. To me, it sounds as though he is lying to cover up for himself. Rosalind would not have given the picture and allowed for them to continue to do research without her.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
No, there was a miscommunication with the director of the lab. There was a letter written that confused whose assistant Raymond was. This caused stress and tension in the lab between Wilkins’ and Franklin.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I believe something like this could happen today. Times have changed and information is more hidden on personal laptops and more private with passwords but I still believe systems can be hacked and information can be found.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this (as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
Science is trial and error. When there is no background, without trying it can be impossible to find results. Franklin was cautious but she did end up finding results in the end through continually putting efforts in. In both cases the scientists worked over and over before they found results.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
I think Rosalind was completely robbed. Watson and Crick would not have been able to produce their model of the double helix without her picture of DNA B. She also did not get the chance to stand up for herself since she didn’t know they had her picture and she died at a young age.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
I believe that if a scientist develops, creates, or discovers something from their own work, then they should own it. The DNA B photo was created by Rosalind therefore she has rights to it and it shouldn’t be published under any other persons’ name.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I found it interesting that he wasn’t sure if it was Rosalind or himself. This was a pretty substantial situation with great pressure to discover what DNA was. Gosling was more worried about being the first to discover DNA and not thinking about the true producer.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
Not at all. Wilkins’ was on vacation when Rosalind started so what else was Raymond supposed to do other than follow Rosalind. From the clip, Rosalind seemed to be farther along in her work anyway that it was probably better for his student to follow her.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I think women in science have created more of a name for themselves and built a higher platform than in the 1950’s. There are also more regulations and security that I feel like it would be difficult to steal an idea. On the flip side, I still see people fighting for themselves to be the first for everything and not thinking of others ideas.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
I think Watson and Crick were a little careless, but they really didn’t know how to interpret the photos quite yet. I do believe a lot of science is trial and error so they tried one model out and Rosalind realized it wasn’t quite right. They decided to study the new photo (which was Rosalinds) on a deeper level and try to make another model. In this case, they formulated the correct model and made a name for themselves.
It seemed like Gosling had something to hide based on the way he answered that question. You may be right that they did not know how to interpret the data, but Watson also did not get all his facts correct before making the model.
1. Was Rosalind Franklin robbed?
Absolutely. The scientists after her could not have progressed if they had not seen her work. She paved the way, the others just went off of her work.
2. What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
I think in a perfect world, scientists should own their work. They should be given all the credit (those who helped). But in reality, once other people get ahold of it, the lines get blurred.
3.What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I think it’s interesting how back and forth he is. It makes me think that he may be lying.
4.Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
No, it is not that simple. Gosling wanted to continue working on this discovery. The letter they received screwed everything up.
5.Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I definitely think something like this could happen today. Especially if you add money to the equation. Everyone wants there chance to make a difference or become well known. It may be harder to achieve because people tend to hide things from others now but it could still happen.
6.Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
Science is based off of trial and error. Yes they were a little careless but I do not think that they could have done much better considering that they didn’t truly understand Rosalind’s photo.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Rosalind was robbed. Not only did her role in the finding of the double helix structure of DNA played down, but she was also villainized. She was not around to defend herself from the accusations since the falsified accounts of the research were published after her death. This, along with not receiving a Nobel prize because they are not awarded posthumously, robbed her of the recognition that she deserved. Also, her data was taken and given to someone she did not want to have it.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
Scientists have the right to be recognized for the role that they plan in attaining new scientific knowledge. It is wrong for others to take this data and claim it as their own. It is different if another person adds to the data, but copying data is dishonest and immoral. The data itself the scientist does not own once published, but the recognition of the hard work that they put into attaining this data, is owned by the scientist.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
His statement sounds like he is trying to lessen his role in leaking the data. He does not want to own up to his mistake, and Franklin is not around to defend herself from this statement.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
Franklin did not steal gosling from Wilkins. Gosling was a student and was there to learn, he chose to work under Franklin because she had superior knowledge of the equipment and the process of their experiment. It was also a miscommunication between Franklin and Wilkins as to what Franklin’s role was in the lab.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
Something like this could happen today, but it is less likely. Gender equality has come far since these events occurred. While miscommunications and people taking advantage of other
people still happen, standing up for oneself are easier nowadays.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
While science works on trial and error, trial and error fails if it does not take into account the scientific evidence already gathered. This is what caused the first model to be careless. Watson and Crick’s model did not work with the molecular geometry that Franklin had discovered. This is why Franklin was harsh on the first model. She did not want a model that was scientifically already proven false.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
I believe that Rosalind was most definitely “robbed”. She was never given the credit that she deserved for her photo of DNA. Those who followed her used her work in order to produce the double helix model, but that would never have been done without her photo.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
If a scientist does the work to obtain data, results, and findings, then it is their work and they have the right to claim it as “own”. This means that nobody else should be able to use a scientists data or findings without permission to do so.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
The fact that he claims he does not remember seems fishy to me. I believe that he is leaving uncertainty in the situation in order to not look guilty.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
No. Gosling, as a student, had every right to choose who he would like to study under. If he felt that he would learn more and make better discoveries under Franklin, then he is allowed to decide to study under her.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I think that something like this could absolutely happen today. It is human nature to strive to be the best, and no social or technological advances will stop scientists from competing to be “first”.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
I do agree that science works by trial and error, but Watson and Crick were a little careless on their first model. I believe that they rushed it because they wanted to claim the discovery of it. I respect Franklin’s approach of wanting to make sure her model was well-done before jumping to conclusions.
1. Rosalind Franklin was robbed. Watson and Crick utilized a photo that she had taken of DNA, which gave them the boost that they needed to claim that DNA was a double helix. They would not have been able to make that claim without her data. They used it without telling her that they did, and they took credit that was largely due to that data. Therefore, yes, Rosalind Franklin was robbed.
2. Scientists have a right to receive credit where credit is due. If a scientist makes uncovers data that leads to a pivotal discovery or revelation, then they deserve to receive credit for that piece of information that they find. I don’t think scientists “own” their data, just because the way scientists interpret the same data could be different, which could lead to one scientist discovering something that the other could not. I do, however, think that credit should be given to all parties involved, including those who gathered the data, and those who drew conclusions based on the data.
3. I found it weird that Gosling couldn’t remember if Rosalind or Gosling himself gave Watson and Crick the data. Maybe he doesn’t remember it because the gesture itself seemed small enough, and he didn’t think that giving them the data would produce such a large discovery about the structure of DNA.
4. No, Rosalind Franklin didn’t steal Wilkins’ student. The fact that Wilkins was on holiday while she started her position there is not Franklin’s fault. The circumstances led her to be the one that instructed Gosling, and so she got used to that environment. Because she got used to feeling in charge, even though she was Wilkins’ assistant, when Wilkins came back there was a confusion of who was actually in charge. Therefore, the lab director should’ve clarified who was “first in command”.
5. People are always trying to receive credit and glory for something. I believe no matter what time that we live in, there will always be people who are willing to take unethical and drastic measures to receive credit where it’s not necessarily due.
6. While I believe that a huge part of science is trial and error, the nature in which Watson and Crick produced this model shows that they were rushing and careless. They weren’t doing this for the sake of discovery and learning more about the nature of DNA, but more because they wanted to be the first to discover it. They were more concerned with the race aspect of the structure of DNA. Franklin wasn’t too cautious. I believe that it is good to be thorough with anything, and that it will be more coherent and more people will understand well-polished results.
Alice Erickson
BIO 270
Rosalind Franklin
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
a. It is my opinion that Rosalind Franklin was “robbed” of the proper accreditation for her research and work; without her findings in x-ray diffraction, Crick and Watson could not have completed their experiments, yet she received no credit at all.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
a. Scientists do not “own” their work, however, like a patent, or a copy right, credit should be given where it is deserved. Because Franklin was a woman, her research was left without credit where it was deserved.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
a. Gosling likely leaked the information to Crick and Watson, who else would have? I think without Franklin, Gosling wanted to feel like he was contributing to the DNA research at Kings, but could not without providing Crick and Watson this information. Though Franklin was highly intelligent, it’s doubtful she would permit her research to be used inappropriately without her guidance; she had a (rightful) superior view of her contributions to DNA research.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
a. Franklin did not “steal” Gosling. Wilkins was away on a leave, and Gosling was told to work under Franklin. I believe she was reluctant to feel guilty about this transition because she was ostracized as a woman within the Kings College community. Perhaps she would have behaved differently had she not been left-out for being female. She was also told she would be an independent researcher by Randall, yet Wilkins was never told such, and assumed she was his assistant.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
a. Segregation of minority groups happens still today. Mistreatment is not always evident in the present moment, but when we reflect on the past, it is evident prejudice occurred. Times have changed, but prejudice occurs still.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
a. Watson and Crick were more irresponsible than careless in making their first model. Knowing nothing about crystallography lent the men no support in designing a model of DNA; it was as if they wrote a research paper without doing any research. I don’t think, then, that Franklin was “too cautious” she was meticulous in her research, as the content she was studying required her to be exacting, trial and error present, or not. Franklin needed to take the approach she did to ensure accurate results. Crick and Watson made an embarrassing guess with their first model.
Good. Note that Wilkins showed the data to Watson, so the question is who gave Wilkins the data.
An interesting question is whether Science today is more like French science shown in the video (More egalitarian, at least where Franklin worked) or more an old boy network.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Franklin was “Robbed” because photo 51 was part of her data that she had collected and it was taken from her. Wilkins gave this information to Watson and Crick which in turn helped them create a model of the structure of DNA before Franklin could. This also helped them learn how DNA replicates. Watson and Crick would not have discovered the structure of DNA without the help of Franklin.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
Franklin’s data should not have been taken from her and used to help someone else further their investigation for the structure of DNA. Franklin should have had the choice to give the information to Watson and Crick instead of it be given by Wilkins. The scientist “owns” their data unless they decide to share that data with others.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I think it is kind of crazy that he isn’t sure if he gave Wilkins the photo or if Franklin did. I would find it hard to believe that Franklin would give him the photo because they did not get along well in the lab. Why give the “enemy” a photo that has crucial data on it about the structure of DNA. I also feel like Franklin would not have wanted to share that photo with anyone due to the fact that she didn’t share much information with anyone that was also studying the structure of DNA.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
Franklin was given Wilkins’ student when he was on vacation. This was a misunderstanding between Wilkins and Franklin. Franklin’s role in the lab was misunderstood. Franklin thought she was working independently and not an assistant to anyone.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I think that this is something that could happen today because everyone wants to put themselves out there. Scientists in today’s world want to be the one to learn something new and some would be willing to do whatever they have to, to make a name for themselves. Times have changed since Franklin due to technology; however, there are ways for people to get information that they want.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
They were not too careless in their first model because they used what information that they had to try to create a model of DNA. Through trial and error, using information that had been discovered, Watson and Crick could create a more accurate model of DNA. Franklin was not too cautious because she wanted to learn as much as she could about DNA before any kind of model would be created. She wanted to understand the structure of DNA using X-ray and diffraction pictures.
It is possible that Gosling gave it to Wilkins because Wilkins asked (remember Gosling was a student of Wilkins). He might not have considered the consequences at the time and later was ashamed to admit it.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Rosalind Franklin was definitely robbed by Watsom and Crick. Credit should be given where it’s due.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
Of course, a scientist should be able to own their data. However, it isn’t so simple because it takes many people’s ideas and their work, which leads to others carrying it further. Therefore, it seems best to give credit to scientists for the amount of work they have put into an experiment/theory. For example, when a movie is made the credit just doesn’t go to the writer since they came up with it. The credit is given to the writer, producer, the actors, costume manager, lights manager, even the crew, and etc. I highly believe that science needs to move towards giving credits exactly where it’s due.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I do find it to be interesting that he can’t remember who actually gave the photo because it was an important step to the discovery, which leads me to believe he is lying.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
Rosalind did not steal Wilkins’ student. Stealing is a bit of an exaggeration because the student wanted to learn further and continue the work.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I believe this could happen today, but it would be a tad bit harder because as time continues more rules and regulations are to be followed. It is important to move forward and do better.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
Science is trial and error, for sure. However, I did notice Franklin to be almost wiser/cautious because she was researching wholeheartedly, whereas Watson and Crick had other intentions as well.
Interesting. Could you elaborate on the claim that Franklin was researching wholeheartedly, while Watson and Crick had other intentions (such as?)
1. Was Rosalind Franklin robbed?
Yes, I believe that Franklin was robbed of the credit for the work she clearly discovered before Watson and Crick. Watson and Crick took all the fame for coming up with the model, however, they would never have gotten that far without having the information from photo 51. Also, she was not alive to defend herself from Watson’s criticism so I believe she was also robbed of her character because in many ways they tried to make her look evil and that she thought she was superior to everyone.
2. What rights do scientists have to their data? Do they own it?
In many ways, I do believe that scientists “own” their data. Without their written permission, I do not believe that anyone else should be able to build upon their work or steal their ideas. In this case Franklin presented some of the work she had found, but she was never giving people permission to steal that work to try and beat her to the final product. She was the pioneer of developing a photo of DNA, and that I believe she had every right to keep it to herself because she had worked so hard to come up with the photo of the helix.
3. What do you think about Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins seeing the data?
I think that Gosling was the one who showed Wilkins. The fact that he could not “remember” if it was him or Franklin who showed Wilkins was just a cover to make himself look better because Franklin can no longer defend herself. However, throughout the whole documentary, it was never like Franklin to share her data with Wilkins, probably because she knew he was friends with Crick. I think that it is him trying to avoid the blame and point that Franklin might have just showed Wilkins even though she had never shared her data with him before and it upset him.
4. Did Franklin steal Wilkins’ student?
No, I do not believe that Franklin intentionally stole his student. I believe that there was a miscommunication, and because Wilkins was gone it was better that the student follow someone than do nothing at all.
5. Do you think something like this could happen today? Have times changed?
I believe that something like this could still happen today. With all the advancements in technology, people can store their findings very securely, however, I do think that there is the chance for someone to always hack into a database and steal valuable information. I do not believe that it would happen the way it did in Rosalind Franklin’s time because everything is more digital, and we have learned from mistakes to keep things written more secure, and also to not share findings with others. Even with all the precautions taken from lessons learned in the past, I do believe it is still possible for others to steal scientific findings.
6. Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this (as some have suggested), just how science works by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
I believe that Watson and Crick’s first model is a matter of trial and error. They did not build a model that was functional as explained by Franklin, and so all that needed to be done was try to gather more evidence to build a better model. I do not think that they were careless, I think that think is merely an example of trial and error. I also do not believe that Franklin was too cautious. In fact, in the end I believe that she was not cautious enough. She was being cautious to protect the findings that she had worked so hard for because she knew she was much closer than Watson and Crick to discovering the structure of DNA.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
-Yes, she was robbed. The work she did was taken by scientists that she did not work with and they used that data construct what she was trying to figure out. They did this without her permission and was not given any recognition.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
-Scientists have a right to the data they collect. By this, I am saying that no one else can claim the data that they collected for their research. I would say they also could claim ownership of that data, but that doesn’t mean others can’t use it. People can use that data in experimentation in the future and also as a basis for more research. However, in doing so the new research cannot claim the other scientist’s data as their own.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
-I found it interesting that he doesn’t quite know who gave Wilkins the data. It was a very important piece of data so you would think he would remember doing so. It makes me think that Gosling gave the picture to Wilkins without Franklin’s knowledge.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
-I believe that she did not steal him. Rosalind was hired with the notion that he would be working with her. She had much more expertise in what was going on and it makes the most scenes for her to head the experimentation. With her doing that if she would need the help of Gosling. She did not steal him, she was given him to help in her research.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
-I do think things like this could happen today. I think that people are always racing to get the next great discovery. Watson proved that some people are willing to do anything to get there before someone else. I think it is less likely today, but I believe it could happen.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this (as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
-I believe they were too careless in their first model. Science is trial and error, but it sounded as if they scrambled together findings to make that model which ended up being false. They also didn’t treat it as an experiment, they presented it to Franklin as the structure of DNA. They even said that it was hard to interpret Frankland’s work so why would they think that their model would be close to the structure. So, in the end, they embarrassed their a college in the process where they could have used more research and experimentation to get a more accurate structure. So, yes science is trial and error, but they made too bold of clams towards their model which ended up hurting their reputation. I also believe Franklin was not too cautious because Watson ended up stealing her data proving that she needed to be so.
1. Was Rosalind Franklin robbed?
a. Yes, I do think that Rosalind Franklin was robbed. She had put so much time and effort into her research but passed before it was really brought up. Watson published a book that took all the credit for DNA rather than bringing Franklin into it. She was not able to stand up for herself when Watson and Crick tried to take credit for her discoveries.
2. What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own it”?
a. Scientists do not have many rights when it comes to their data. They have the right to take credit for something that they personally did, whether it be research, or discovering something but should not be able to take credit for something they did not do. If the scientists did something or created something, then they do own it but should not take credit or try to own something of a passed scientist.
3. What do you think of Goslings statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
a. Goslings statement made it seem as though he wasn’t telling the whole truth or wanted to hide something to take the full credit. He isn’t straight to the point but rather seems as though he is “beating around the bush”. He seems as though he is trying to make it look as though he is not guilty for stealing Franklins work.
4. Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins student (Raymond Gosling)?
a. I do not believe Rosalind Franklin “stole” Wilkins student. Gosling was a student and was able to make his own decision. He was trying to learn but needed to decide who he would learn from. I believe that this whole situation came down from miscommunication.
5. Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
a. I do believe that something like this could happen today. There is so much more technological advances and there is a lot of miscommunication. Now with telephones it is easier to communicate but at the same time many people prefer texting which can lead to miscommunication.
6. Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this (as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
a. I do believe that science comes down to trial and error but without the proper research and technology, It can lead to incorrect results or no results. I do believe they could have taken more precaution but at the same time, many scientist do not know what they are getting into at the same time.
1. Yes, I do believe Rosalind Franklin was robbed. She was a major part of Watson and Crick’s finding of the structure of DNA and may have never even known that her work was such a key part to their discovery. She was also portrayed in the book as incompetent and was not given credit in any speeches they gave.
2. I believe that scientists do have certain rights to their data. They should be able to share their data with whomever they feel is allowed to have it, and people using or copying their data without permission should not be allowed and should be frowned upon. If someone does use someone else’s scientific data, the person they took it from should be credited for that data.
3. I think that the way that Gosling talked about it seemed very suspicious. I think there is a potential that he believes it is partially his fault and is embarrassed so does not want to admit it.
4. No, I do not believe Rosalind Franklin stole him. I think that there was miscommunication and Wilkins was not present when Franklin first arrived, so the student naturally began to work with Franklin and Franklin naturally accepted the help. She did not purposefully do it, so she was not stealing.
5. I think something like this could happen today. I think that people get very desperate to find what they need, just as Watson and Crick had, and will do anything to make sure they get that information.
6. I think that science can definitely be a trial and error type situation, however, I also think that Watson and crick were a little careless while making their first model, especially because the documentary talks about how when they went to her talk, they did not fully understand what she was talking about but tried to make a model anyways. Even though this may be true, having that criticism from the first one helped them to grow as scientists so it is not necessarily completely careless.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Yes, she was definitely robbed. It was her work that spear-headed the DNA discoveries that Watson and Crick took credit for. Watson would even admit he didn’t know enough about crystallography to make proper interpretations of the data. They used photo 51, Rosalind’s clearest picture of type B DNA to supplement their model-building technique, which did not require as much analysis and hard work as Rosalind’s experimental technique. She should have been able to share her findings in her own time.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
Scientists have the obligation to share their discoveries, so in that respect they do not own their data. In a sense though, they do own in that they discovered it and should receive credit for what they found.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
He says it may have been either him or Rosalind who handed the photo over to Wilkins. I don’t think we can know based off this video if he’s trying to cover up his own mistake or if he really can’t remember. I think it would be very difficult to keep a secret for that long, and he’s much older now and I feel he would be forgiven if he publicly apologized for what he did when he was younger.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
No, there was simply a miscommunication and misunderstanding between Wilkins and Franklin. It also makes sense that Gosling would choose to learn under Rosalind as she was the superior experimental scientist. However, it is unfortunate that the misunderstanding caused tension in the lab in addition to their already conflicting personalities.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I am sure something like this could happen, but I feel scientists have become more careful in giving credit where credit is due. I feel there are more guidelines, and women are not as prejudiced against. Back then, it would have been less believable that a woman made these discoveries. Nowadays, we do a better job at recognizing female scientists.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
Science does often work by trial and error, but Watson would even admit that he didn’t know enough about crystallography to make proper assumptions about their data. Instead, they stole what Watson heard at Rosalind’s presentation and made a shot in the dark. Rosalind wasn’t too cautious, she was obviously very confident in her experimental technique and the results it would yield.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Yes, Rosalind Franklin was “Robbed”. Watson and Crick would not have had the information needed to build their model without getting the data Franklin collected.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
I believe scientists have the right to choose when they want their data to be shared with others. I don’t believe they own the data but they should be credited if their data is used by another scientist.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I think he was trying to deflect any blame about how the data got to Wilkins.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
I don’t think Franklin stole Gosling because he was assigned to work under her while Wilkins was away. When Wilkins got back Gosling if he didn’t like working with Franklin could have requested to be assigned back to Wilkins.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
Something like this could happen today because there are a lot of publication sites that could be paid to alter information or given incorrect data.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
I don’t believe they were too careless because they used the little knowledge they had to create a model and is part of the process of science. I wouldn’t say she too cautious because she probably showed her data to close friends and didn’t want to publish until she completed her research.
Can you give an example of a site that would be paid to alter information? There are some journals that will publish almost anything for a fee, but I have not heard one ones that do what you say.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”? Yes I believe she was absolutely robbed, there really shouldn’t be any question about it. She had done the majority of the work and from what it sounded like she worked hard at finding that data, which in turn was just handed to these men.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it? I think that they should have all of the rights to their data. The person who puts in the work and time to discover something should ultimately be able to use it and share it how they see fit. If a university funds the experiments, a contract should be signed or a legal agreement worked out so that both parties know what they are agreeing to.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data? In my mind it seemed sketchy because it seemed to solidify more the idea of a “good ole boys” club where the men were privy to the most important information and were exclusive against other members. The men seemed to be ganging up on Franklin in my opinion.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)? No not at all. First and foremost, Gosling is his own man and could choose who to study or work under. If he was already studying under wilkins before he went on holiday or if he was to study under him, then that would have been his responsibility to let Franklin know these things. Also, the letter written saying that Franklin and Gosling would be the only two working definitely added confusion to the situation, so there is no real way for Rosalind to be in the wrong here.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed? I would like to think that it wouldn’t happen today, but I’m sure it definitely still does, if not in America then probably other areas where women have even less of a voice. Unfortunately women are still considered to be in a minority group and in some areas or countries are considered less than men. It is still very apparent that women don’t receive the credit they deserve.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious? Yes and no, science definitely involves a lot of trial and error, but for the amount of knowledge Watson and Crick had and the skills they had, they were wrong for going about it in this way. They even admitted they were not as equipped, skilled or knowledgeable as Rosalind. In that case it would be important to have base understanding or a little bit more direction rather just trying and erring. Rosalind’s approach seemed to be more effective by being sure she had a lot of information before attempting to model the DNA helix.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”? The video stated that Rosalind Franklin was responsible for the crucial x-ray photo, basically the discovery of the DNA structure. She guided the framework for Watson and Crick to solve the ultimate structure of DNA. I would argue without her knowledge, evidence and research they wouldn’t have arrived at the same conclusion and certainly not as soon. I find it very interesting that the forager of this discovery was reported as her work simply agreeing with Watson and Crick while in reality they started their discovery by analyzing her work and working from it. In my opinion she definitely was “robbed” by that I mean her recognition and credit was completely diminished. In a way I would accuse Watson and Crick of complete plagiarism/ cheating in a form.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it? Scientists don’t necessarily have “rights” to their data, research is mainly done for the people to gain an understanding/solution of some matter. But they are owed credit, recognition and respect for their work and involvement.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data? I think it was an insufficient statement avoiding full responsibility of how the data got to Wilkins.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)? While Wilkins was gone, Raymond was put under Franklin’s supervision. There was a confusion of Franklin’s position of Wilkin’s thinking she was supposed to work under him as an assianat but she assumed the role of independent study. Which Raymond assumed working under her although he was under Wilkin orginailly. So I wouldn’t say she stole Wilkin’s student there was a major miscommunication.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed? I most definitely do think something like this could happen today because people regardless of time by nature seek personal self validation for their work. Even if it affects anaother’s image negatively or inaccurately.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious? In general Watson and Crick I think they were more open with their research with one another of course and out right obvious with their first model which was solely based on Franklin’s. They were show offs if you ask me while Franklin may be seen as stingy with her research but from this video I would say it was necessary being that she was a woman in science during a particularly hard time for women to be seen as successful.
(1) YES. She had data that she had studied, discovered, and written about even if not published. It was that exact research that was stolen from her without even trace evidence of them collaborating. In any other situation/field it would be considered theft.
(2) I believe they have the intellectual right to claim their findings. If it helps someone else, then they must obtain the information consensually before using it and must give credit to the original individual for their results.
(3) It seems a bit strange to imagine that it was possibly Rosalind who would have given such a valuable finding to Wilkins since they didn’t get along well and her guarded nature about her research.
(4) I would not say so. Wilkins had put Gosling under her guidance, and together they began working while he was away. The miscommunications provided a rough start for sure, but she did nothing intentionally wrong.
(5) Sadly, I am sure this still happens. Whether because of gender, race, or class, the powerful few manage to pull the strings. We learn more everyday about unmentioned yet influential women throughout history. I am certain that one day findings during the current era will arise.
(6) There is something to be said about trial and error in terms of brainstorming and theorizing, but critical work and physical models need to be based upon actual evidence. Rosalind’s work set them up perfectly taking the time and effort she committed for granted.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Yes, I think she did great. Watson and Crick and many others benefited greatly from her discovery and she never got any credit for it since she died young. Everything was based on her findings but none of the people to take it from her gave her the credit for it which is sad. Like the picture of DNA from X Rays.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
I believe that a scientist’s data and knowledge they find is completely their own until they die or share it. Once one dies the info should be released to the public so we can all learn from it but we should know who it came from. But when they are alive they own it and no one can do anything about it.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I think he was trying to hide something because he probably did it but doesn’t want to be known for it so he gives a blurry answer.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
No, not at all there was a miscommunication with Franklin and Wilkin. The student was simply there to learn and that was it. It didn’t matter and Franklin was farther ahead anyway.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
Yes gender Equality is a big thing now and the technology that is around nowadays making sure everything is documented properly and there is information on everything so it is hard to just take stuff. Women now have more of a voice and they can fight for what’s theirs. So yes times have changed greatly and I think it would be a lot harder. But there is still a chance because we are competitive humans.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
Science is built on the idea of trial and error that how you figure out the unknown. I think that Watson and Crick were way too careless and were not doing it for science but to claim what really wasn’t theirs. So they rushed it greatly just so they could claim it first to have that recognition. I think that Franklin was doing it completely right I think that we should take our time to fully prove and understand to the best of our ability before publishing it.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
In my opinion, I think that Rosalind Franklin was robbed. She wasn’t given the proper recognition of getting the first x-ray of DNA. At the same time, she wasn’t alive to tell the truth (which is quite frustrating).
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
Scientists have the right to the information that they personally discovered. With that, they also have the right to own that information!
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I get what he was trying to do but it’s weird for him to say he doesn’t know who really discovered it when he really does. Gosling was just thinking about his reputation.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
I dont think Rosalind Franklin stole Wilkin’s student. Franklin wanted to keep going with her work so it would make sense why Raymond would help her.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
With the technology and procedures that we have now, I dont think this would happen as much as it did back then. Women now are getting more recognition. However, there are still some people that take credit for things that they really deserve.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
I think they were a little careless with their first model. Trial and Error is part of science however knowing what you are actual doing is important to have a good outcome and I dont think Watson and Crick really had a good grasp. I dont think Franklin was too cautious. I think she was just trying to make sure that her outcome was good.
(1) Was Rosalind Franklin “Robbed”?
Yes. She worked long and hard to contribute to science and what we know today and justly did not share her data with others because it was what she had herself discovered and did not have any obligation to share it with Watson and Crick, although they seemed to think that they had a right to see her work otherwise. Her work was stolen from her because it was in her findings that would later be groundbreaking towards providing evidence of the structure of DNA. If it weren’t for her work that Watson and Crick stole, they would not have correctly produced the necessary data to show the structure of the DNA.
(2) What “rights” do scientists have to their data? Do they “own” it?
Just like anyone else who has a creation of their own, music, writing, discoveries in any field, everyone has a right to have their findings be solely theirs. It is not easy to discover new ideas and spend the amount of time and mental toughness it takes to not only discover something new and correctly supported by adequate evidence. Any individual has the right to have their work attributed to themselves and others if they have also contributed towards the findings.
(3) What do you think of Gosling’s statement at the end of the video about who was responsible for Wilkins (and thus Watson and Crick) seeing the data?
I think it is very false and that he was just trying to make it seem that he did not entirely have a part in exposing her data because he supposedly does not remember although he can remember every other part of the story that he told about her during that time.
(4) Did Rosalind Franklin “steal” Wilkins’ student (Raymond Gosling)?
No. Rosalind believed that Gosling and herself were to be the only ones working on the data in their lab. There were miscommunications between the supervisor of the lab that made for conflicting views between Rosalind believing she was working alone and Wilkins’ believing that she was to be his assistant. This was also in addition to Wilkins’ being gone during the transition to her being new to the lab.
(5) Do you think something like this would happen today? Have times changed?
I think that it is still possible for something of this manner to happen today for sure. Although, if the individual whose work was taken from them found that their work was being stolen I believe that there would be some sort of lawsuit or publication about the matter that would hopefully put justice as a means to the end of the situation. I do believe that the same could have happened at the time if Rosalind would have discovered this, although do not believe that her voice would have been heard as much by others because of the way she was looked down upon by her colleagues and believe they would have made it difficult for her to find justice in this situation.
(6) Were Watson and Crick too careless in their first model, or is this ( as some have suggested) just how science works, by trial and error? Was Franklin too cautious?
I believe that they were too careless, perhaps because of being anxious to present new findings. It did not seem that there was empirical data about their model to support what they were trying to demonstrate. I believe that there is trial and error much of the time, although findings should not be presented until they can be proved to be true and I believe that Watson and Crick jumped the gun on this one to try to be the first ones to present this groundbreaking data.