Nearly half a century ago,
scientists raced to discover the secret of life. At the forefront of this
effort was a brilliant British researcher who brought her substantial gifts to
the study of DNA. Her name was Rosalind Franklin, PhD.

Dr. Rosalind Franklin
painstakingly captured “Photograph 51” of the “B” form of DNA in 1952 while at
King’s College in London. It is this photograph, acquired through 100 hours of
X-ray exposure from a machine Dr. Franklin herself refined, that revealed the
structure of DNA and the key to understanding how the blueprint of all life on
earth is passed down from generation to generation.

This discovery changed the world.
Today, physicians, scientists and allied health professionals are better able
to predict and prevent illnesses because of the discovery of the structure of
DNA. In 2004, the former Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago
Medical School was rededicated as Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and
Science (RFUMS). Some of our physicians at the Sleep and Behavior Medicine
Institute serve on the faculty at RFUMS, and we are proud to be affiliated with
such a great institution and the legacy of such a notable and dedicated scientist.

We honor all women this month
― patients, colleagues, family, friends and neighbors. For more
information about Dr. Rosalind Franklin, visit www.rosalindfranklin.edu. And to
learn more about the National Women’s History Project, visit www.nwhp.org.