Maurice Wilkins
Maurice Wilkins (pronounced: maw-REES WIL-kins) was a prominent physicist and molecular biologist known for his significant contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Etymology
The name Maurice is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman name Mauritius, meaning "dark-skinned, Moorish". The surname Wilkins is of English origin, meaning "son of Wilkin".
Early Life and Education
Maurice Wilkins was born on 15 December 1916 in Pongaroa, New Zealand. He moved to England with his family when he was six years old. He studied Physics at the University of Cambridge and later earned his Ph.D. in the same field from the University of Birmingham.
Career
Wilkins started his career as a physicist but later shifted his focus to biology. He joined the Medical Research Council's Biophysics Unit at King's College London in 1948. Here, he started working on X-ray diffraction techniques to study the structure of DNA.
Contributions to DNA Structure Discovery
Wilkins is best known for his work on the X-ray diffraction images of DNA, which led to the discovery of the DNA double helix structure. His work, along with that of Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and Francis Crick, was instrumental in understanding the molecular structure of DNA.
Awards and Honors
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.
Death
Maurice Wilkins died on 5 October 2004 in London, England.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Maurice Wilkins
- Wikipedia's article - Maurice Wilkins
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