Happy birthday Rosalind Franklin, DNA pioneer

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When it comes to women in science, few names are as steeped in controversy as Rosalind Franklin – chemist, X-ray crystallographer, and DNA pioneer. 

Esther Lederberg, microbiologist

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Dr. Esther Lederberg was an American microbiologist best known for her development of the replica plating method and her discovery of the lambda bacteriophage – a virus-infecting bacteria. A pioneer of bacterial genetics, she lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs in our understanding of genetic inheritance in bacteria, gene regulation, and genetic recombination.

Linda Partridge, biogerontologist

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In 2001, Professor Dame Linda Partridge published landmark research demonstrating that the manipulation of a single gene in the fruit fly Drosophila led to an increase in the fly’s longevity – a discovery that, coupled with similar effects in mice and nematode worms, became one of the most highly cited findings of the decade.

Mary-Claire King, geneticist

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Professor Mary-Claire King is a world leading geneticist best known for her work on the genetic underpinnings of breast cancer, and her application of forensic genetics to victims of war-torn countries.

Janet Thornton, bioinformatician

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Professor Dame Janet Thornton is a world-leading bioinformatician and current Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute. An established academic, she was one of the first people to pioneer the use of computational methods to classify protein structures in terms of their component parts.

Aarathi Prasad, biologist and science communicator

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From the biology of race to virgin births, Dr. Aarathi Prasad is a leading commentator on the genetics behind some of our most hotly-debated aspects of reproduction, and what changes we could expect to see as science and technology progress. A prominent science communicator, she has brought the topic of sex and science to audiences worldwide.

Anne McLaren, geneticist and pioneer of early in-vitro fertilisation

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Professor Dame Anne McLaren was an English geneticist who helped to develop the techniques that made in vitro-fertilisation a reality. A diligent scientist, Anne authored over three hundred papers and several books, and was recognised as a world-leading expert and ethical advisor in her field.