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Sometimes known as The Dark Lady of DNA - Roselind Elsie Franklin's contribution to Crick and Watson understanding the helix structure of DNA often goes untold.  Here's a brief summary of her work, her life and her contribution to one of the most important scientific tools we have today - DNA.

There is probably no other woman scientist with as much controversy surrounding her life and work as Rosalind Franklin. Franklin was responsible for much of the research and discovery work that led to the understanding of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA. The story of DNA is a tale of competition and intrigue, told one way in James Watson's book The Double Helix, and quite another in Anne Sayre's study, Rosalind Franklin and DNA. James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received a Nobel Prize for the double-helix model of DNA in 1962, four years after Franklin's death at age 37 from ovarian cancer.

Franklin excelled at science and attended one of the few girls' schools in London that taught physics and chemistry. When she was 15, she decided to become a scientist. Her father was decidedly against higher education for women and wanted Rosalind to be a social worker. Ultimately he relented, and in 1938 she enrolled at Newnham College, Cambridge, graduating in 1941. She held a graduate fellowship for a year, but quit in 1942 to work at the British Coal Utilization Research Association, where she made fundamental studies of carbon and graphite microstructures. This work was the basis of her doctorate in physical chemistry, which she earned from Cambridge University in 1945.

After Cambridge, she spent three productive years (1947-1950) in Paris at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de L'Etat, where she learned X-ray diffraction techniques. In 1951, she returned to England as a research associate in John Randall's laboratory at King's College, London.

It was in Randall's lab that she crossed paths with Maurice Wilkins. She and Wilkins led separate research groups and had separate projects, although both were concerned with DNA. When Randall gave Franklin responsibility for her DNA project, no one had worked on it for months. Wilkins was away at the time, and when he returned he misunderstood her role, behaving as though she were a technical assistant. Both scientists were actually peers. His mistake, acknowledged but never overcome, was not surprising given the climate for women at the university then. Only males were allowed in the university dining rooms, and after hours Franklin's colleagues went to men-only pubs.

But Franklin persisted on the DNA project. J. D. Bernal called her X-ray photographs of DNA, "the most beautiful X-ray photographs of any substance ever taken." Between 1951 and 1953 Rosalind Franklin came very close to solving the DNA structure. She was beaten to publication by Crick and Watson in part because of the friction between Wilkins and herself. At one point, Wilkins showed Watson one of Franklin's crystallographic portraits of DNA. When he saw the picture, the solution became apparent to him, and the results went into an article in Nature almost immediately. Franklin's work did appear as a supporting article in the same issue of the journal.

A debate about the amount of credit due to Franklin continues. What is clear is that she did have a meaningful role in learning the structure of DNA and that she was a scientist of the first rank. Franklin moved to J. D. Bernal's lab at Birkbeck College, where she did very fruitful work on the tobacco mosaic virus. She also began work on the polio virus. In the summer of 1956, Rosalind Franklin became ill with cancer. She died less than two years later.

We have to give credit where credit is due.....even if it is a half a century later.

With so many uses for DNA testing these days, from the simple paternity test to the more complicated predictive genetics tests, I meet a variety of people from all walks of life.  I always get a kick out of the young men and women, who are curious about the DNA testing process because of the TV shows they watch.  They want me to call them and say "You are.... the Father".  They make light of a very serious situation, but I still get the feeling that these young men and women know the responsibility they are facing.  I am not worried about them or the future of their child.  They are taking the step today in confirming paternity so that their child will have a proper foundation on which to build a life and to include both famiies in that process.  I genuinely sense a maturity in these young moms and new dads that I don't always see in some of my older clients. 

When I do make that call, I focus on the miracle of the new baby in their lives and the joy they will experience as new parents.  I can feel a little fear, but with the right support and a positive attitude, most of these new parents are happy with the confirmation of paternity and ready to take on the role of "dad", or "poppy", or "da" - I always have to ask what will your baby call you?

There are occasions when I have been asked to lie or stall results.  My own personal ethics don't allow me to do anything other than the usual process, that is collect the DNA, submit samples to an accredited laboratory and then notify all adult participants of results.  It is hard, because the circumstances may be that the new mom, has not had time to make peace with the results, but if a man willingly participates in a DNA test, then he should be entitled to the results at the same time as the mom. 

Our infidelity tests are mostly submitted by middle aged clients, educated but consumed by doubt about a spouse.  Thoughts of infidelity interfere with their everyday activities to the point, that as they come into my office, I can feel their relief to finally get this over with.  These clients have taken steps to secure a stained item of clothing that presents as suspicious.  Although not admissible in court, these test can determine if there is a biological substance present, if there is male DNA or female DNA present and if that DNA matches the client, or in most cases, does not match the client.  Dresses, underwear, shirts, upholstery from a car have all been submitted for infidelity testing.  I don't offer insight into results, because most clients will only remember what they want to remember - in the case that the results don't come back to their liking.  I only offer information on what the labs can test and how they can use those tests to help remove doubt from their minds.  Diplomacy and tact are of the utmost importance in these cases, as well as empathy.  The ability to diffuse a possible high tension situation, and remain calm does not always come easy but with experience and security in place - I feel comfortable handling these cases. 

The Predictive Genetic client is perhaps someone who has been directed by their physician to come in for dna testing, because their current lifestyle is putting them at risk.  The physician relies on genetic predisposition testing to "wake up", the client that putting a few healthy steps in place today may possibly allow for more pleasant "golden years".  After all, with health insurance expenses sky rocketing - who is going to be able to pay for healthcare?  Better to get healthy today, so that costs are limited in the future.  Predictive Genetic Tests involve a simple skin prick (similar to a diabetic stick) and within about 2 - 3 weeks some genetic risk information is provided only to the client. (read the GINA act signed by then President George Bush 43)  These are private tests and the client is then urged to speak to his/her physician about results and measures that can be taken to prevent, stall or eliminate genetically inherited diseases.  I congratulate these clients in taking initiative to modify their behavior.  They (or their physician) are enlightened enough to know what is available to them today in terms of DNA testing and they are taking action too.

Patients taking Coumadin, Tamoxifen, Depression and Pain Management medications, Heart Disease and Prevention meds, Plavix, Strattera and Fluorouracil should all be tested to determine if they are poor metabolizers, intermediate metabolizers or ultra metabolizers - information that can be used to determine safe and effective dosage and minimize risk to patient.

The U.S. government is asking more and more of our immigrant families to provide solid proof of their biological relationship. So more often, we receive a call from an individual who wants to know the process of DNA testing between sponsor and beneficiary.  They are confused as to how their beneficiary living in Ghana or Caracas or El Salvador will be tested.  It is really not that hard or confusing, once I show them our step by step guide.  You have to have a bit of understanding of other cultures as well.  Not all cultures understand a smile, or the importance of eye contact, or that a price is a price - not a negotiating point.  It's all in a day's work and a lifetime of experience with various cultures. 

So why did I open the DNA Lady - how could I say no when I have the opportunity to meet young and old, in all walks of life, with all sorts of stories and each one a lesson in appreciating my own life.  The successful business owner, and that is what this is first and foremost, a business - must study people effectively, know your own behavior and boundaries and have a clear sensitivity to customers. 

My most interesting client is the one who wants his/her child to excel in the right sport.  They take the time to have their child's DNA analyzed to determine if their child is right for an endurance sport or a strength sport.  Who is the next Victor Cruz, an endurance athlete or the next defensive end - Justin Tuck - a strength athlete?