From X-rays to biomolecular structure: D. Hodgkin, R. Franklin and A. Yonath

Abstract

Following the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen and Max von Laue's discovery of X-ray diffraction by crystals, William and Lawrence Bragg made it possible to calculate the positions of the atoms within a crystal from the way in which an X-ray beam is diffracted by a crystal lattice. Since then, several researchers have applied this powerful technique in the study of many molecules of life, such as proteins, vitamins and hormones. In this interdisciplinary field, two women played a very important role, viz. Dorothy Hodgkin (Nobel Prize, 1964) and Rosalind Franklin. Nowadays, Ada Yonath (Nobel Prize, 2009) follows a similar line of research. We will emphasize the extraordinary work of these scientists.