The exhibition ‘Four Plus: Writing DNA’ was inspired by the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA, as well as the purchase last year by the Wellcome Library of the archives of Francis Crick (aided by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund). Writing DNA is also an attempt to look at how the raw data - the human aspect of this discovery - becomes history.

The discovery of the DNA double helix has entered scientific folklore. In Cambridge, brash American James Watson and brilliant Englishman Francis Crick were single-minded in their quest to understand the structure of DNA and the clues it might provide to life’s most fundamental processes. In London, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin were carrying out experimental studies on DNA, using X-ray diffraction techniques to gather insight into its three-dimensional shape. Relations were notoriously strained between Franklin and Wilkins, and between Franklin and the Cambridge researchers.

In what turned out to be the crucial episode, Wilkins showed Franklin’s X-ray results to Watson. Immediately, Watson realised the significance of the results, dashed back to Cambridge and with Crick built the model that for the first time revealed to human eyes the structure of the molecule of life - the double helix.

Franklin never knew Watson had been privy to her results. Watson and Crick were reticent, to say the least, to acknowledge her contributions. Watson, Crick and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize; by then Franklin was dead - ironically, of cancer probably caused by exposure to X-rays. The Nobel Prize is not awarded posthumously and never to more than three people.

Fifty years has seen endless debate and argument about the case - ignited by Jim Watson’s pungent and racy account of the project in his book ‘The Double Helix’. Should Wilkins have shared Franklin’s results? How important were they to Watson and Crick? Did they deliberately exclude her from sharing the credit? How important was the fact she was a woman in a predominantly man’s world? For the supposedly dry world of science, the story reveals the rich colours that inevitably accompany any human endeavour.

The ten commissioned artists differ in their approach and ‘take’ on their subjects. One of the artists is a friend of James Watson. Another is the daughter of scientists who worked alongside Francis Crick. Another is simply intrigued by the comparable anonymity of Maurice Wilkins. The others have either responded to the iconic status of Rosalind Franklin (one making a Michael Moore-like journey involving coal, Chicago and dubious diamond-making), or have chosen to comment on the social history of DNA.

Such is the nature of passionate debate that the views expressed by the artists are their own. But all, in their own way, encourage us to think anew about a seminal scientific discovery and the people who made it.

‘Four Plus: Writing DNA’ runs until 29 August 2003 in the TwoTen Gallery and at the Wellcome building at 183 Euston Road. Opening hours vary.

See also

• Artists celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA at new exhibition (Press release: 12 March 2003)
• Francis Crick’s controversial archive on first public display in major exhibition to celebrate 50th anniversary of discovery of structure of DNA (Press release: 31 March 2003)