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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mad Pursuit Search for the Structure of DNA

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities as they study the historical story of Rosalind Franklin not receiving credit for her contributions in discovering the structure of DNA.
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Handout
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Understanding Science: Dna

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how the human side of science played a role in the significant discovery of the molecule of life, DNA.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Crick, Watson, and Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
This article describes the race to unlock the mystery of life by determining the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The discovery of DNA and its structure is an example of collective learning.
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Rosalind Franklin: Dna's Unsung Hero

For Students 9th - 10th
The discovery of the structure of DNA was one of the most important scientific achievements in human history. The now-famous double helix is almost synonymous with Watson and Crick, two of the scientists who won the Nobel prize for...
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Rosalind Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a fantastic biography of Rosalind Franklin. It has links to both additional information and images to help illustrate the biography.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs People and Discoveries: Rosalind Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS People and Discoveries offers an excellent, if brief, sketch of Rosalind Franklin's character and life.
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Activity
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Rosalind Franklin (1920 1958)

For Students 9th - 10th
Access Excellence provides a biography of Rosalind Franklin and her role in explaining DNA's structure.
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Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Rosalind Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the life and discoveries of Rosalind Franklin in this article. Learn about the controversy that surrounds her contributions!
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Handout
Nobel Media AB

The Nobel Prize: Maurice Wilkins Biographical

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins, the co-recipient of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Medicine. This article includes a picture of Wilkins and information on both his personal life and public career.
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Handout
PBS

Nova: Picturing the Molecules of Life

For Students 9th - 10th
Retrace the development of our knowledge of nucleic acids by viewing pictures of nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA) taken in 1952, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1984 and 2001.
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Handout
Other

San Diego Supercomputer Cente: Rosalind Elsie Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
The story of Rosalind Franklin, pioneer DNA researcher whose career was cut short by her early death is told here, including the role she played in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
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Handout
BiologyWise

Biology Wise: Famous Scientists in Genetic Research

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents biographical information about prominent geneticists and describes the discoveries they are famous for.
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Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Dna Interactive: Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of the discovery and work with DNA is located in this totally interactive timeline. Parts of the timeline are displayed using short movies, animation and flash.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Rosalind Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Article about a recent book on Rosalind Franklin and the contribution she made to the discovery and identification of "The substance of life -- the structure of DNA."