The research process is cooperation
The history of science witnesses many discoveries that greatly contributed to scientific research and scientific development.. Hence, in the second half of the twentieth century the most of the attention was concentrated on revealing the secret of a gene. Famous biologists and geneticists start their exploration fight in this field. Hence, the greatest discovery in the biological field was the discovery of DNA in 1953. In the course of the research, such scientists as Oswald Avery, Salvador Luria, Watson and Crick, and Rosalind Franklin studied this phenomenon.
Some scientists regard scientific exploration as a race, others are determined that race hampers scientific progress; it looks more like a race for glory and fame rather than a race for the sake of scientific progress (Maddox, unpaged). Still, my strong belief is that cooperation and mutual support would significantly contribute to biological research.
Three biologists were working on double helix research: Watson and Crick, and Rosalind Franklin, who was on the opposite sides of the study. The problem was that Watson and Crick believe that the research process is a race whereas Franklin denied that idea since she was confident and was more inclined to cooperate.
In the film “Life Story” based on the facts, there observed the confrontation of the two theories made by Watson and by Franklin as far as the DNA structure is concerned. Thus, the former insisted on the three-chain structure and the latter was the supporter of DNA consisting of two chains (Jackson, 15). In this battle, the winner was Rosalind Franklin who proved her two-chain theory. Watson and Crick were disposed from the work in this field. The ban discouraged the researchers, but still, they try to keep pace with the inventions in this field. After returning to London, they start working in a group with a young scholar, Peter Pauling who justified their theory and disapproved of the two-chain model of the DNA. He was also confident in the existence of a helical structure.
Consequently, Franklin’s offense of their theory and the ratification of the new theory triggered further research in that field. However, the bad side was that the scholars were encouraged only by the possibility of being famous. Their goal was to capture the first positions by unconventional approach in the research.
In the film “Life Story” (Jackson), there observes a scientific competition that comes to the fore and DNA’s invention. Apart from this, the movie shows a negative influence of some social and political factors on the research. The fact is that it was not only a scientific competition; it was a personality competition as well. To my mind, this factor prevents a more fruitful work on the DNA structure. Blinded by the power and the success, Watson and Crick did accept the additional help from Franklin that an outright adversary of considering scientific work as a race. As a result, Watson and Franklin were not aware that their contemporaries made the same invention.
In addition, the book “Double Helix” written by Watson disclosed too many personal issues and was highly criticized by many people. In his work, he described the human weaknesses of those who took part in the research. In particular, Watson mentioned the confrontation of their study with Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins’ research (Jackson, 19). Moreover, the uncomplimentary depiction of Crick and Peter Pauling was also inserted in the book. Consequently, the book is the bright evidence of his burning desire to get the Noble prize in the active confrontation with Wilkins and Franklin.
Science is an instruction run by people with a wide range of interests and motivations
The endless duel of the scholars showed that “science is a human activity, and scientists are ordinary human-being” (Jackson, 19). On the other hand, “science is an instruction run by people with a wide range of interests and motivations” (Jackson, 19). Therefore, the research helps to explore the world being the prior purpose of the scholars. In this particular case, Watson and Crick were focused on their scientific tool, revealing not only the actual process of study but also some social factors influencing them. In its return, Franklin also deserved the acknowledgment due to her desperate devotion to the work in the biological field and she would have obtained the Noble Prize but for her early death because of cancer.
Conclusion: the scientific approach is as important as the scientific result
In conclusion, Watson and Crick reached considerable results in the DNA structure study and greatly deposited to the advance in the field of genetics; they managed to uncover the secret genes. The same must be said about Rosalind Franklin, she was also one of the founders of the helical structure. Nevertheless, London scientific groups chose the irrelevant method of the study since it rudely infringed the ethic of human relationships and therefore did not have a positive impact on the improvement of the scientific advancement. Anyway, the film depicts that the human factor plays a significant role, and Watson could not be strictly judged in his eagerness to achieve the desired results in this sphere.
Works Cited
Maddox, Branda. “Before Watson and Crick” The most important people in the century. 2009. Web.
Jackson, Mick (Director). (1986) Life Story (Race for Double Helix) BBC Worldwide.
Jackson, Mick Race for Double Helix 1986.