Maurice Wilkins

Maurice Wilkins was a New Zealand-born biophysicist who contributed significantly to our understanding of DNA's structure. He was pivotal in the development of X-ray diffraction techniques to analyze biological molecules. His work alongside Rosalind Franklin led to the discovery of the DNA double helix, a breakthrough that transformed biology and medicine. Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962, shared with Franklin and James Watson, for this monumental achievement. His research laid the foundation for molecular biology, genetics, and the study of hereditary diseases, impacting fields ranging from biophysics to medical research.