Maurice Wilkins was a pioneering biophysicist born in New Zealand on December 15, 1916, who relocated to England at age six to pursue his education. He earned his undergraduate degree in physics from St. John's College, Cambridge in 1938, followed by a PhD from the University of Birmingham in 1940, where his thesis focused on the electron-trap theory of phosphorescence and thermoluminescence. During World War II, he contributed to radar development and subsequently, in 1943, he moved to Berkeley, California, where he worked on isotope separation as part of the Manhattan Project. Witnessing the devastating effects of atomic bombs led him to reconsider his scientific path, ultimately prompting his transition to biophysics. In 1946, he joined King's College London as part of the Medical Research Council Biophysics Research Unit, where he would conduct his most influential work.
At King's College, Wilkins pioneered the application of X-ray diffraction techniques to unravel the molecular structure of DNA, a breakthrough that would revolutionize biology. Working closely with Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling, he developed methods to produce highly ordered DNA fibers by carefully controlling moisture levels, resulting in clear X-ray diffraction patterns. His meticulous experimental approach yielded the critical data, including the famous Photo 51 captured by Franklin, which provided the essential evidence for the helical structure of DNA. This work directly enabled James Watson and Francis Crick to formulate their double helix model in 1953, a discovery that transformed our understanding of genetic inheritance and biological function. For this seminal contribution to science, Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Watson and Crick.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Wilkins became a prominent advocate for the ethical application of scientific knowledge, particularly concerned with nuclear disarmament and global poverty following his Manhattan Project experience. He dedicated his later career to promoting social responsibility in science, serving as a moral voice on the peaceful use of scientific discoveries and their potential to address humanity's greatest challenges. His rigorous experimental methodology set new standards for biophysical research that continue to influence structural biology decades later. Wilkins' enduring legacy encompasses both the fundamental understanding of DNA that launched the biotechnology revolution and his principled commitment to ensuring scientific progress serves the broader interests of humanity, cementing his place as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century.
