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Rosalind Elsie Franklin (25 July, 1920–16 April, 1958) a British biophysicist is best known for her contribution to the field of the understanding of molecular structure of RNA, viruses, DNA, coal and graphite.

While all her works are important for science, her contribution towards DNA structure helped many scientists understand and explain the genetic process of the transfer of information and traits from parents to children. Her work on x-ray diffraction images of DNA is considered to be crucial to the discovery of DNA double helix. Her data was actually used in Crick and Watson's 1953 hypothesis for finding and confirming the helical structure of DNA, without her knowledge. When she was done with her research on DNA, she made significant contributions though her research on polio viruses and tobacco mosaic virus that offered noteworthy findings for scientists. She died young at 37 due to ovarian cancer and tumour related issues.