Chapter 1: The Illusion of Good Collaboration

In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick made headlines by unveiling the “double helix” structure of DNA. Their groundbreaking work, alongside Maurice Wilkins, earned them the Nobel Prize in 1962. Given their accolades, it’s understandable that a recent publication would highlight them as exemplary collaborators:

"Effective collaborators contribute meaningfully, treat others with dignity, and demonstrate intellectual bravery and open-mindedness. This is evident in the case of James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins." (Kotsonis 2021, pgs 8–9).

However, despite their significant contributions to science, I contest that Watson, Crick, and Wilkins should not be regarded as models of collaboration. They behaved unjustly towards another pivotal scientist, Rosalind Franklin.

Franklin, who had secured a fellowship at King’s College London, entered Wilkins’ lab under the impression that she would conduct DNA research independently. Unfortunately, Wilkins had been informed they would collaborate, leading to tensions that ultimately compelled Franklin to depart the lab. Prior to her exit, she and graduate student Raymond Gosling were capturing high-quality X-ray crystallography images of DNA.

At the same time, Watson and Crick were conducting their research at Cambridge, positioning them as competitors to Franklin and Wilkins. In early 1953, Wilkins inappropriately shared Franklin’s photographs with Watson without her consent. To exacerbate the situation, Watson and Crick also accessed unpublished research that Franklin had submitted to the Medical Research Council.

Franklin’s contributions were vital to the discovery of DNA's double helix structure. Watson himself admitted that upon viewing one of her photographs—now famously known as photograph 51—he felt an exhilarating rush, realizing the implications for the DNA structure. Yet, their 1953 paper scarcely acknowledged her critical role.

Tragically, Franklin passed away in 1958 at just 37 years old from ovarian cancer. Since Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously, she was not eligible for the accolade shared by Watson, Crick, and Wilkins in 1962. This moment could have served as an opportunity for the trio to recognize Franklin’s invaluable contributions, but they missed it.

Thus, while Watson, Crick, and Wilkins may have functioned well together, they do not exemplify true collaborative spirit in my view. After all, appropriating another's work without consent and neglecting to give credit does not reflect respect or intellectual bravery. Rather, it signifies dishonesty and a lack of integrity.

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