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Rosalind Franklin Trivia Quiz

This pioneering scientist made crucial discoveries in DNA research. See how much you know about her life and work. (Note: some terms have been changed from the U.K. spelling to the American.) Hope you enjoy the quiz. Thanks.

A multiple-choice quiz by neon000. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
neon000

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
274,671

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
292

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Rosalind Franklin was born in London, England in 1920. In school, she earned high marks in Latin and athletics. What college did Franklin attend? Hint

University of East London

Newnham College, Cambridge

City University London

The University of Hull

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 1942, Franklin landed a job with the British Coal Utilisation Research Association. Her work looked into the porosity of coal. Franklin's projects helped inspire which of the following developments? Hint

Microchips

Charcoal briquettes for use in barbecues

The use of diamonds in industrial drills

High-strength carbon fibers

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 1950, Franklin began work as a researcher at King's College London. What was the first subject she studied? Hint

Time travel

Nuclear energy

Vaccinations

X-ray diffraction of proteins in solution

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following fellow pioneers in DNA research was a student of Franklin's? Hint

Raymond Gosling

Francis Crick

Linus Pauling

Alan Turing

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1953, Franklin moved on to work at another school. Where was it? Hint

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Royal College of Science

Carnegie Mellon University

Birkbeck College, London

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Question 6 of 10

6. Franklin studied the structure of what virus? Hint

The tobacco mosaic virus

Influenza

Human papilloma virus

Marburg virus

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1956, Franklin first became aware that she faced a serious health issue. What was it? Hint

Hepatitis

Multiple sclerosis

Heart disease

Cancer

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1957, Franklin and her research associates studied what virus? Hint

Ebola

The common cold

Polio

Hantavirus

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Question 9 of 10

9. In January, 1958, Franklin was awarded what title? Hint

Research Associate in Biophysics

The Nobel Prize in Medicine

Order of the British Empire

The Order of Merit

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following named for Franklin its Award for Women in Science? Hint

The Royal Institution of Great Britain

Yale School of Medicine

The U.S. National Cancer Institute

Cambridge University

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Rosalind Franklin was born in London, England in 1920. In school, she earned high marks in Latin and athletics. What college did Franklin attend?

Answer: Newnham College, Cambridge

Franklin was awarded a 'decree titular,' since women could not earn degrees from Cambridge until 1947. Jane Goodall, Sylvia Plath, Germaine Greer and Margaret Drabble also attended Newnham College.

Answer: High-strength carbon fibers

Carbon fibers are used in the construction of everything from surfboards and motorcycles to jet airplanes. It is much lighter than the metals which preceded it as traditional industrial supplies.

3. In 1950, Franklin began work as a researcher at King's College London. What was the first subject she studied?

Answer: X-ray diffraction of proteins in solution

This technique enables the researcher to examine the structures of crystalline materials. It is also useful in the identification of unknown materials.

4. Which of the following fellow pioneers in DNA research was a student of Franklin's?

Answer: Raymond Gosling

Gosling was born in 1926. He and Franklin wrote three papers which were published in "Nature" magazine in April of 1953. Turing was not a DNA researcher. He worked in computer science.

5. In 1953, Franklin moved on to work at another school. Where was it?

Answer: Birkbeck College, London

Birkbeck College is part of the University of London. It was founded in 1823 under the name the Mechanics' Institution. It began to admit female students in 1830.

6. Franklin studied the structure of what virus?

Answer: The tobacco mosaic virus

At Birkbeck, Franklin studied with J. D. Bernal and Aaron Klug. Franklin had a key paper on TMV published in the journal "Nature" in 1955.

7. In 1956, Franklin first became aware that she faced a serious health issue. What was it?

Answer: Cancer

That year, doctors discovered two tumors in Franklin's abdomen. Franklin had become good friends with fellow DNA scientist Francis Crick and his wife Odile; after Rosalind's initial bout with the disease, she recuperated at the Cricks' home.

8. In 1957, Franklin and her research associates studied what virus?

Answer: Polio

Franklin's research group was highly productive. In 1956 they co-authored seven papers; in 1957, they wrote six. During this time, Franklin continued to receive treatments for cancer.

9. In January, 1958, Franklin was awarded what title?

Answer: Research Associate in Biophysics

This she earned from Birkbeck College. Francis Crick and James Watson won the Nobel Prize in 1962 for their work on the double helix structure of DNA. Franklin was not considered for the prize because she died in April of 1958, and the Nobel Prize is not given posthumously. Franklin passed away on April 16, 1958, three months prior to her 38th birthday.

10. Which of the following named for Franklin its Award for Women in Science?

Answer: The U.S. National Cancer Institute

Honors continue to accrue to Franklin after her death. Birkbeck College 's School of Crystallography named its research laboratory after Franklin. In 2004, the Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School changed it name to the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Source: Author neon000

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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