Maurice Wilkins: Pioneering Molecular Biologist and Nobel Laureate
Early Life and Education:
Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins was born on December 15, 1916, in Pongaroa, New Zealand. He grew up in a scientific and academic environment, as his father, Edgar Wilkins, was a medical doctor and his mother, Eveline Wilkins, had a background in mathematics. The family moved to England when Maurice was six years old.
Wilkins attended King Edward’s School in Birmingham, and his early exposure to science influenced his decision to pursue a career in physics. In 1935, he entered St. John’s College, University of Cambridge, where he studied physics and earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1938. He continued his studies at Birmingham University, obtaining a Ph.D. in physics in 1940.
Contributions to the War Effort:
During World War II, Wilkins worked on the development of radar technology, contributing to the war effort. His expertise in physics and radar led him to collaborate with other scientists on various military projects.
Move to Biophysics and X-ray Crystallography:
After the war, Wilkins shifted his focus to biophysics and X-ray crystallography, a technique used to study the structure of crystals. In 1948, he joined the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where he continued his work on biological molecules.
In 1951, Wilkins moved to King’s College London, where he began his pioneering work on the structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography. Around the same time, James Watson and Francis Crick, working at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, were also investigating the structure of DNA.
Discovery of DNA Structure:
Wilkins’s work at King’s College involved using X-ray diffraction to study DNA fibers. His colleague, Rosalind Franklin, also played a crucial role in generating high-quality X-ray images of DNA. The famous “Photo 51,” taken by Franklin, provided valuable insights into the helical structure of DNA.
In 1952, Wilkins shared his data and images with Watson and Crick, who were able to construct a model of DNA that incorporated a double helix structure. In 1962, Wilkins, along with Watson and Crick, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Later Career and Legacy:
After the DNA discovery, Wilkins continued his research in biophysics and molecular biology. He became Professor of Molecular Biophysics at King’s College London and contributed to the understanding of the structure of other biological molecules.
Maurice Wilkins passed away on October 5, 2004, in London. His work laid the foundation for modern molecular biology, and his contributions to the elucidation of the DNA structure remain a cornerstone of biological research. Wilkins’s commitment to scientific discovery and his collaborative efforts with other researchers significantly advanced our understanding of the fundamental principles of life at the molecular level.
